Luna's very first friend Ike, otherwise known as Ikey Bones, or just Bones, was a Red Bone Coonhound. Their first meeting was just like a scene out of a romantic movie where the couple runs to each other across a field of wild flowers. However, Ike & Luna's backdrop was on the sandy beach of Lake McConaughy. Fletch & I had already been there for a few days & were expecting the Fasnachts, from Colorado, at some point on this particular day. This was in a day when there was no cell phone coverage on the beach so you just waited for people to arrive. We were going about our day & were playing in the big sand dunes, when all of a sudden we see Mark & Ike also at the top of this dune about 100 yards away. It was like slow motion. First, Luna & Ike sat and just stared at each other from afar. Then, as if they had rehearsed their roles in this romantic beach film a dozen times, they both started running straight towards each other. None of us knew what to expect; a collision, a fight, injuries? It was out of our control at this point. They ran straight into each other, tumbling over & somersaulting & rolling around in the sand together as if they were long lost loves & having a long overdue reunion. That was it! They were friends, each other's first! From the time they were puppies to no matter how big & lanky Ike got, they both loved sitting in low rider beach chairs .
Another trip, or maybe it was the same trip, they ran away from camp. They didn't come to our calls & were missing for quite a bit. I was starting to worry, but then I got a phone call from a woman saying she found a brown dog & a white Pit Bull puppy. Pit Bull? Luna's not a Pit Bull, she's a Yellow Labrador that's actually white! I still swear my little angel would never run off. She was just following that troublemaker Ike, who's hound nose took him on many journeys. I remember one time, watching as he was at the camp down the beach. He grabbed their foil packet of chicken right off the grill, as they were all obliviously enjoying water sports. Oh, Ikey!
Ikey liked to bark at fireworks & kites. I'm sorry, did I say bark? Ike didn't bark. He howled! That's what Coonhounds do. He howled & he howled & he howled & he never shut up. Yes, I did get annoyed w/ it at times, but I also thought it was cute. It was just his way of talking. I liked talking back to him by howling myself, it was such a cute howl. I didn't do it as much as I would've liked because his howl annoyed most others & they would get annoyed w/ me for egging him on. Now, I wish I would've talked to him more.
One night, Ike wouldn't stop howling at the fireworks. And he didn't just howl at them, he chased them. He was annoying the rest of the lake & Mark was passed out in the sand, so some of us hatched a plan. We decided to tie Ike's leash to Mark, so that when Ike went to run at the fireworks, he would take Mark w/ him. I wanted to tie it to Mark's hoodie string so that it would pull Mark straight up to a sitting position, but we all agreed that might cause some injury. We tied it to his leg instead. The next time fireworks went off, Ike took off, pulling Mark's leg & howling the whole time. It didn't even phase Mark. He just rolled over, reaching down to the leash tied to his leg & reeled Ike back in, pulling Ike into him, basically spooning him & went back to sleep in the sand.
I could tell you many stories of Ike & his escapades, but these are my favorite memories of Ikey Bones. I will miss rubbing my face in those ears of his. They were so silky soft & they were so long that I could tie them in a bow on top of his head. In the last few years, Ikey has had some grays coming in on his face. He would let me kiss that face even as he howled away.
As we camp here at the lake, where we expected to see him at some point on this trip, we got a text from Ikey's momma, Ailie. She said Ikey had to be put to sleep. He fractured his thigh doing nothing at all & they found bone cancer. He was only 9 years old, like my Luna. I expected to watch Ike get old & start moving slower, but even w/ the few grays, he seemed so young & healthy. Ailie said that night, Ike would be leading the parade w/ Sunny at his side. I couldnt help but look over at the Sunny tree, where Sunny spent her last days. She was Ike's friend too & she will be happy to see him. They were there for us then & I so wish we could be there for them now.
Ike had many tags. I dont know why he had so many but Ailie said her & the kids were each wearing one of his many tags the next day.
She also said they were just looking at puppies the day before all this happened. It's too bad that a new pup won't get the chance to meet Ike, or put up w/ his howl, or get lost following Ike's nose. It might be a good thing that this pup doesn't have the chance to be influenced by that troublemaker that we all loved & adored & will miss around camp.
Rest in Peace & howl away Ikey! ❤
