Our Kodiak

A story about puppy love and flying to a high and lonesome place

Kodiak, in Memory

April 1, 2001- January 9, 2015

Today I’m thinking of my dear old pup, Kodiak, “Kody Bunkers,” my teacup Newfoundland, my first dog, my only dog.

He died on this day, after a quite glorious life in which he taught me dog wisdom you can’t come by any other way.

If you listen to my short recording above, you’ll learn of my religious conversion to puppy love. I once hated and feared the canine. Then, “The Spell of The Plastic Virgin Mary” was broken.

And yes, that is my award-winning Shower-Stall-Singing-Voice you’re hearing at the end of the clip. Pray for me?

I am a champion Car-Radio singalong gal. I think more people should sing for the hell of it. A part of your soul comes out, even in a flat note, that you just can’t perceive in a person’s speaking voice. —Don’t you think?

One of my New Year’s resolutions: Sing while I can. Don’t worry, I won’t be re-recording Whitney Houston’s greatest hits. Well, at least until next year.

Cody's “hellhound portrait” at Its Beach, by his devoted other mommy, Honey Lee Cottrell

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Oh, have you seen my dear companion

For he was all this world to me

I hear he's gone to some far country and he fares no more to be

I wish I were a swallow flying I'd fly to a high and lonely place

I'd join the wild birds in their crying thinking of you and your sweet face

Oh, have you seen my dear companion

For he was all this world to me

But now the stars have turned against us and he fares no more to be

When the dark is on the mountain and all the world has gone to sleep

I will go down to cold dark waters and there I'll lay you down and weep

Oh, have you seen my dear companion

Oh, have you seen my dear companion

For he was all this world to me

“My Dear Companion,” an English traditional adapted and recorded by Jean Richie in 1956.

Cody in Big Sur, our favorite times.

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Versions of “Dear Companion”

JEAN RITCHIE’S CLASSIC

Ritchie is a lady worth learning about, if she is new to you. My mother had an 1955 album when I was a tot, called Shivaree that featured her, Oscar Brand, Tom Paley, and Harry & Jeanie West. It is a barn-buster!

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JO MILLER AND LAURA LOVE

My favorite version by far is Jo Miller and Laura Love, in their old-timey bluegrass album. Brings me to tears every time.

Look for cut #12, on this list. The entire album is soaring.

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“My Dear Companion” became famous when Emily, Dolly, and Linda sang it on their Trio II album.

I would love to find a live version of them singing “Companion,” but I found only a couple of award show performances which were too tense to bear.

Instead, my favorite live recording of the Trio singing was when Dolly had her own short-lived variety show. They were all so young and relatively unadorned. —Just pure angel.

“The Sweetest Gift” was written in 1946 by gospel-hall-of-famer James B. Coats, who penned a song about grieving that is hard to forget.

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