For the story re: the cabins. Actually, KC Spiro took him that day b/c I was busy at home working on a very early version of GravityFed. They were gone about an hour when I saw Chip come running across the yard from the living room window. I thought to myself, “hmmm, must be they are back”. When I opened the door to let Chip in, though…there was no KC Likely before you guys even decided to come back to Buttonwood to check (this was before cell phones were everywhere), he had run all the way home (v-lined) and even crossed 9400 South at one point between Wasatch Blvd and our house near Smiths! About 15 minutes later poor KC showed up in a panic to see Chip sitting there next to me..haha. I was always curious, so I checked the mileage from the cabins to our house.. and it was 4 miles. So he ran 4 miles and crossed a very busy road knowing exactly where he had to go to get back to me. Crazy.

I remember the times we all had at the Dolores River when we care took the Entrada Wilderness Ranch that one summer. I crack up to this day when I think of Shore trying to swim across and his ass end slowly sinking while he drifted down stream with the current Our dogs sure loved that summer and 3 weeks Shore stayed with us.

And at our wedding, that worried me a bit because I didn’t think he was going to go back in the collar…so I was sort of ready for him to sit there next to us during the whole ceremony!

Anyways, thanks again for the letter it means a lot. Miss you guys so hope to hang out this winter…if you’re coming out for some Pow.

G & D

It is only now that I read about the passing of our dear old friend Chip, and as I sit here recalling so many memories of him I can’t help but smile. I remember when Cree showed up at Mellow Yellow with what I thought had to be the craziest dog in the Western Hemisphere. Only a person like you Gary would have a heart big enough to take what we all thought would be a disaster waiting to happen into your home, and show him the patience and love that finally brought him out of his shell and into the world that the rest of us inhabited. There are so many memories of Chip, and practically none of them are dull ones. I remember the day when you felt comfortable enough to bring him down to the cabins. At some point he must have thought that you had left, because he took off in search of you. He wasn’t out of our sight for more than a few minutes before we realized that he was gone and began to search frantically for him. once we came to the conclusion that he was nowhere around the cabins, either you or Watson (or both of you) decided to take the search mobile. Someone had the idea that he may have found his way back to your house, and to our amazement, he had. I also recall the day of your wedding day when I was given the simple task of holding Chip and Adah’s leash during the service. Even though we were a mere 20 feet away from the two of you, with an unobstructed view, Chip decided that that was simply not going to do. About one minute into the service, he took one look at me, looked over at you, and without so much as a seconds hesitation, expertly ducked out of his collar and went to stand by your side. I am completely convinced that he played a vital role in teaching Shore how a good dog should act, and I would like to think that he carries a little piece of Chips legacy on. So here is to Chip, who went from one of the craziest dogs I have ever known, to one of the best. He’ll be missed, even from afar.

Love you guys,

Jake