To the editor: Mondays at 12:15 p.m. will never be the same for my Labrador Retriever, Cleo. This week Cleo lost a very dear friend, Terry Goss.
Cleo, now 10 years old, has known Terry all her life and every Monday she waited patiently for his truck to come barreling up the hill. When I’d take the trash can to the end of the driveway Monday mornings, she knew it was “Mr. Goss Day.” It was nearly impossible to get Cleo in the house once the can was out. No matter the weather, Cleo would not leave her watch post for hours until her friend arrived. She would often change spots but always stayed in sight of the trash can.
Dogs have internal clocks and 20 minutes before Terry’s usual ETA, Cleo got antsy. Her ears perked up when she heard his truck on the next street. Anticipation building, Cleo would sit regally and her tail began its rhythmic countdown. When the roar of his truck’s engine could be heard coming up our hill, Cleo’s tail would wag with such force that her whole body wiggled. Cleo, who rarely barks, would begin her cry of excitement, as if exclaiming “He’s here! He’s here!”
With Cleo front and center and wiggling, the truck door opened and then music to her ears – “Cleo! Hey Baby!”
Terry took time to love on her and make her feel special, plus he gave her treats as we chatted. After a few minutes he would say, “Cleo Babe, here’s your ‘quitt’n bite’, see ya girl. Have a good day.”
As Terry drove his truck to the neighbor’s house, Cleo used to run to greet him again there. When I finally broke her from double-dipping, she would sit in our yard and watch him next door – of course, her tail wagging the whole time. As Cleo watched Mr. Goss drive away, she would be content and follow me inside. All was well until the next Monday when the trash can went out again.
There were a few Mondays when Cleo and I were not home to greet Mr. Goss. We could tell he’d been by, and Cleo would run up to the can, her neck stretching to sniff the top of the lid. Terry always left Cleo four treats – the fourth one, always the “quitt’n bite.”
Terry Goss will be missed by many, humans and canines alike. He was a hard worker and a genuinely good person. I will miss those Monday at 12:15 chats, and Cleo will miss the wonderful attention Terry always gave her.
We’ve lost a jewel of a person and a friend. RIP Mr. Goss.
Linda Camp and Cleo
Clarkesville