Ring! Ring! “Fredman, is your dog lost?” “

“No, he knows where he is. Dogs don’t get lost, they just get tricked. Let him go and he will follow his way home, or tell me if you watch him and I will come and watch him too.

Darby died on Tuesday morning. He’s gone, and it’s me and Suzanne that are lost.

His last two days hadn’t been good. If I had had the euthanasia needle, I would have helped him. I didn’t take any pictures of Susan lying on the floor next to him in the middle of the night. She would always say, “He’s your dog, but he’ll take me if you’re not available.”

The biggest dog had the best life. I wanted him to go hunting turkeys, to look at the closing speed, to move into the unknown dimension of the doggie. But Monday night, during the Dallas and Eagles game, he raised his moans to low barks. I was there with him. I was the 6 foot guy lying on a 5 foot couch.

“Yesterday is dead and gone, and tomorrow out of sight, isn’t it sad to be alone; help me get through the night. “- Kris Kristofferson.

Post Scriptum – Chronicle of Darby Dog’s declining skills and daily walks was never my intention, but his story aroused something good in everyone who has followed his saga, including family, close friends and those. who hardly know me. I could write a book that would make “Marley and Me” sound like high comedy. Extremely sad things happen in all families over time. There is often a dog sharing, who puts his head in your lap, who senses that something is wrong. I have too sad stories to share, which stay in the family and some never escape me. But Darby knew they were there, but now he’s somewhere else. He knows where he is, but I’m lost. Darby Dog died Tuesday, September 28 in the early morning. I texted all the kids and grandchildren before posting the above praise on Facebook. Twelve hundred people responded, 800 of whom wrote personal messages. I posted on Darby all the time; he was a companion on my daily Travels with Fredman series on the Lifetime Channel. He showed us that the people are good, that I’m fine, that we really are Sesame Street by the Sea. People and Pets may be a better column than People in Sports. I have been writing the mixed version for 40 years. The late sports writer from Philly Bill Lyon, a top-of-the-tree sports columnist said of all the columns he has ever written, the one on the death of his little dog, Missy, 11, has received the most widespread reaction. I knew Bill personally. He was just the best guy, no wonder he was a dog guy. He wrote: “If you think a dog should be treated like a dog, then you probably shouldn’t have a dog. I will continue to walk towards the soybean field as the sun sets behind the trees every day. The colors of life are different. The planets are moving. I’m a passenger, but with no Darby in camera, I’m just a weird old poet using Sussex slang standing with himself.

Struggling with my thoughts – Indian River Wrestling Coach Jeff windish spoke about the upcoming season Tuesday ahead of the Cape at Indian River field hockey game. We both agreed on the benefits of two-sport athletes, and if one of those sports is wrestling, you twice get a super tough, competitive kid. Hoping this year offers a full schedule of matches and tournaments.

Excerpts – Cami Smith started four of seven games for the West Chester University Golden Rams field hockey team. On September 25 against Slippery Rock, she scored her first collegiate goal in a 4-0 win at West Chester. Jody boyer started in midfield for No.1 Shippensburg, while Marlee Geppert was in the Queens University goal, as the “The Ship” Raiders won 4-2. Delaware State Freshman Cross Country Runner Albert Normand, of Sussex Central, broke an academic record of 25:57 to win the Shore Cross Country Invitational, beating 41 athletes. Norman was selected MEAC Cross Country Runner of the Week. I don’t know anything about the Ryder Cup and I won’t allow myself to find out. I should pay attention to the WNBA, but this is unlikely to happen. I hate pace makers in professional diamond league track and field competitions. Who’s chasing a runner who you know gives up early? If they can’t hang on, neither can you. Go ahead now, git!