Well, where do I start?  I was a junior at East Carolina University.  I decided I needed a companion and went to the Humane Society in Pitt County, North Carolina.  I and my girlfriend at that time looked at several prospective pets.  Well suffice it to say there was this little, skinny dog that they swore was part German Shepherd and that I sincerely doubted was a shepherd.  Quite frankly, she was probably the least attractive physically of the dogs available at that time.  Of course, she was the one I went home with.  



Upon arriving home, I had to name her.  At that time, I was taking Russian.  I recalled a word I had learned recently, but could not remember what it meant.  The word was "gloopy".  Well, that was the name she got.   Upon researching the name, well I discovered it meant "stupid" in Russian.  I felt real bad about this, but she was answering to it, and, well, she and most everyone else did not know any better.  On a bright point, this little gloopy dog turned out to be the smartest dog I have ever been around.  However, she strongly disliked riding in my car back on weekends.  I never really understood this, but tried to work around it the best I could.  



Well, in 1987, Gloopy and I pack up and head to Chapel Hill for law school.  After a year in law school and due to time demands, I had to leave her for a period of time with my mother and father.  She stole their hearts with her quiet and fun-loving ways.  Well, I took my buddy back in 1990 when I moved to Wilkesboro, North Carolina.  We began a new life up here.  Since then, it has always been a pleasure to arrive home after a frustrating day and see the little girl waiting on pops to come back.  



Being close to the parkway, whenever I needed time to think, well I and the Gloopster took a little ride up there and just enjoyed the views.  I will miss these rides to the parkway and being to unload on Gloopy---who was the absolute best at listening to me whine and complain about what was going wrong with my life personally and/or professionally.



Well, today, February 23, 2004, Gloopy was received by the Lord.  I knew it was coming, but I'm having a hard time accepting it.  She was a part of me.  A part of me is now gone.  I do not know how I could have become so bonded to this wonderful dog, but I did.  I will always miss her and hope that one day, she and I can enjoy some more views together.