Today, Tuesday July 21, 2008 our family made the difficult decision to let our beloved Sampson go. Mike, Joshua, Melissa, Ashley (Joshua's girlfriend) and I were with Sampson when he left this world for that great "Little City of Rocks" in the sky. Kevin (Melissa's boyfriend) stayed with Rocky, Oliver and Dakota.
Sampson came to live with our family in Ohio in the summer of 1995. From the very beginning he had a love for water, rocks and Joshua. The first night he was in our home Joshua was so excited to have him he slept on the floor of his room with his head hanging out of the doorway.
Sampson would spend many hours pulling Melissa around the house by her ponytail. Several times our neighbor Helen Stump would call to tell us that Sam was swimming in the cow trough in her field. He also loved to go to the Stump pond to swim with our family. Sampson had a unhealthy obsession with rocks. He ruined his teeth and caused his nose to bleed pushing them around. Grandpa Gregor nicknamed him "Sam, Sam The Rock Man"
When we moved to Idaho in 1999 Sam discovered the canal system that ran through the town. Mike and Joshua would take him to the "Little City of Rocks" to run. Chip Gibson made him a dog pen on the side of the garage. Sam dug at the rocks and dirt in the pen to the degree that the floor of the pen was much lower than the surrounding ground. We had to refill it several times during our time in Gooding. Oddly enough, Sam never came to like Chip even though he built him his special place. Sam had a basketball in his pen that he would chase, bite, push with his nose, and balance on his nose. The UPS delivery driver would sometimes take his break outside our house so he could watch Sam's antics. He enjoyed the bones that Good Neighbor Larry would give him. The one thing he hated was the basement. When the weather was bad, he and Beuckey would spend time there when we were not at home.
In 2004 our family moved to Oregon. Sampson loved to go for walks in the forests above our home. He would run ahead of us, then stop and look back to make sure we were still there. He enjoyed being in a big fenced backyard. One day he got out and ran down to the neighborhood grocery store. Joshua found him inside the store.
Over the past year Sampson's health had been getting worse, but he always had a smile on his face. What a great dog.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sam, Sam The Rock Man
A Wink and a Smile. Christmas 2008
Mike and Sam playing in the snow Dec. 21, 2008
Sam, Rocky, Melissa, Lindsay, Amber and Ashley (behind Amber) taking a dip in Salmon Creek.
Joshua and Sam bonding at Salmon Creek Falls Campground July 26, 2008
Sampson loved camping with the family.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Dog-Diggin' Garden!
Oliver gives a helping paw.
Shelbi and Mike planting the garden, with a little help from Oliver.
Who needs a shovel to dig a hole?
Shelbi helping plant another Gregor Garden.
Spending quality time together.
Down on his knees, working the soil.2009 SHHS Tennis Season
Who has what it takes to be a Champion?
The Big Match-Up! Coach Mike and his Assistant Coach Chris, take on the #1 and #2 singles players in a doubles match.
Coach Mike giving words of encouragement to one of his doubles teams at the District playoffs
St. Helens High School Girls Tennis Team 2009Wednesday, March 11, 2009
HOME SWEET HOME!
Melissa, Rocky and Dakota moved into their new home this past week. Mike and Nan helped to get a fence around the backyard to keep the dogs in while Melissa is at work. They all love their new house.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Brotherly Love!
Rocky Montana and Dakota Washington bonding over football man.
Sampson and Oliver posing for pictures (with a little help from dad).
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