It is with a heavy heart that I share that my beloved Newfoundland, Bear, passed away a couple of months ago. I have been hesitant to write about it, but so many folks have seen me in the beat-up old convertible “dog car” and keep asking, “Where’s the big dog?” So, I guess it’s time to break the news publicly.
“DGD” is a term UGA football fans use to describe certain players and fans. The acronym stands for Damn Good Dawg. It’s the highest compliment, and basically means that person is a loyal, unwavering and dedicated fan. I don’t know for sure, but I’d guess the term originated in describing one of the bulldog mascots named “Uga.”
And while he was neither a person nor a bulldog, Bear was definitely a DGD!
He would faithfully sit in the convertible every morning, down in the Village greeting passersby as I ate breakfast at Palmer’s Village Cafe. Folks were always amazed that he would just sit (or sprawl on the seat) there in the car and not try to get out. They would tell me, “My dog would never stay in the car. He’d be long gone!” I always replied, “There are two reasons he never tries to jump out: 1) He knows I’m bringing him a piece of delicious bacon from Palmer’s, and 2) He weighs 190lbs, so he can’t jump out of the car.”
There is a great line in the movie The Shawshank Redemption where the character Red is describing how things are since his friend Andy escaped the prison. “But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they’re gone. I guess I just miss my friend.”
I just miss my dog.
John Krivec
