Remembering Sophie

March 2006

On March 7, 2006, after a 15 month battle with cancer, our dear dog Sophie passed away with the help of our compassionate veterinarian. Sophie was our loving companion for slightly over four years coming to live with us at age five.

So why are we putting this sad news on this simplicity related website? Those of you who are pet lovers know the grief felt when one loses a devoted animal companion. But we post this here, because Sophie was a special dog from the first day we met her. Many, if not all of you, have probably had the experience of a special person (or creature) that changed your life in some significant way. Perhaps it was a parent or grandparent, a certain teacher or friend, a total stranger…or even a dog. Somehow, someway they motivated you at a turning point in your life, made you think or behave in a new way or opened up some new path for you to pursue. David’s high school biology teacher and later his first boss were those kinds of special people. Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin, authors of Your Money or Your Life, were those kinds of people for us when we started our simplicity journey. These people became our counselors and mentors at key points in our lives. They freely shared their wisdom in a manner that resonated in our psyches in some unique way.

Sophie filled a similar role for us for the last four years. She not only became our loving and devoted friend and companion, but also our “creature teacher.” She reminded us daily to live in the present moment for the past is done and the future is unknown. Echoing author Eckhart Tolle, Sophie manifested the reality that right NOW is the only thing that is for sure. She also reminded us that our true needs are simple and few. Food, water, shelter, some physical and mental exercise and pure love and companionship are all we really need to have a happy life. And as age and disease began to catch up with her, she adapted to what was. If her joints hurt, she simply moved slower and rested more. When she woke up one day and couldn’t see out of one eye she accepted that limitation without complaint and adapted to that new reality. When the cancer moved into her jaw and she could no longer open her mouth wide enough to catch the tennis ball (her favorite activity) or play with her toys she accepted that limitation. Never once did she withhold her love and devotion. She taught us to live and love more and to worry about the past and future less.

We miss Sophie terribly but are consoled by the lessons we learned from her and the many fond memories we have of her life with us here on earth.

Sophie's Biography

Sophie was a Flat-Coated Retriever/Lab mix that lived with David and Jacque from January 2002-March 2006. She was a voluntary simplicity dog extraordinaire who loved life, especially when chasing a tennis ball. Sophie came to live with David and Jacque at age five in January 2002 when a member of a simplicity study circle David belonged to went through some life changes that made it difficult to care for a dog. We shared our life with Sophie until her death in March 2006.

Flat-coated Retrievers are related to Golden and Labrador retrievers, have long hair and are always black or liver color. They are very devoted, seldom bark and have a mellow personality. For more information about flat-coats, check out the website of the Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America found on the links page.

Sophie was also a teacher. She taught David and Jacque to lighten up and pay attention to what is really important in life – love, companionship and simple pleasures. She made them laugh and play when they got too serious and to get out-of-doors for a walk at least twice a day come rain or shine. Sophie thought humans were slow learners but with patience could be trained to get a life!

Here are a few of Sophie’s favorite things you might want to check out:

Favorite Movie: Sophie’s Choice. She really liked Meryl Streep in this one.
Favorite Book: Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder. A great read about philosophy.
Favorite Sports: Swimming, Tennis, Hiking and Sleeping.
Favorite Poem: Dharma by Billy Collins.