Now if you are a wine enthusiast you instantly think
David Ramey, right? Well believe it or
not you’re not far from correct. You see
Ramey was one of the most special dogs I have ever known named after the
incredible David Ramey. Or at the very
least the fantastic wine he makes.
One couple, from the Memphis family, quite by
accident got a puppy. I was really
shocked when they introduced us to the new member of the family and was really
shocked when they told me that Ramey was the dog’s name. You see this couple was the number one buyer
of Ramey wines in the state of Tennessee at the time. Yes, I said family!!
A few years later I took some very important members
of my Memphis family, including Ramey’s Mom and Dad, to Napa Valley. One of the places we visited was Ramey’s
winery. He showed us around and
entertained us in grand style. And of course these people bought a ton of his
wine to be shipped back home to them. David was so kind he gave them each an signed, etched
Three liter bottled. My friends
had a picture taken of Ramey sitting by the bottle sent it back to Ramey and
the next time we were in the winery a few years later the picture was framed and hung in the middle
of his tasting room. We were all shocked
to see the picture in such a prominent place.
So now you know the name story, let me tell you the real story of the power of
Ramey.
When Ramey arrived into the house the man of the
house was a powerful, hard nosed, take no prisoners businessman. He was the guy everyone wanted on your side
of the deal and no one wants to deal against.
He was, and still is, a man’s man.
He, most times, is the smartest guy in the room. OCD to a fault, but also one of the truest
friends you will ever have in the world.
So Ramey arrives and just like a sharping stone she slowly starts to
work on the rough edges of my friend. This
animal reveals something I have always known about my friend. Ramey shows the world my friend is really; the
kind, gentle, loving, caring, generous, and compassionate guy we all know and
love but few see.
I remember one time we were visiting a friend of ours in
the country. Ramey always went with us
and loved to swim in the lake. One day
we go to visit the friends father. He has a dog
that he says doesn’t get along with others.
We are making sure the two dogs are not near each other. Well as fate would have it Ramey, being the friendliest
dog on earth, got a little to close and the other dog jumped her. My friend, in the blink of an eye leaped into
the pile of dogs and took the aggressive dog down. Now remember these two dogs were fighting, biting,
scratching digging and barking like crazy.
He was ready to kill the aggressor as was everyone else. We loaded up and came back home without
anything losing it live but trust me more than one of us was ready to do the
deed. Nothing attacked Ramey and didn’t
pay a price. It was a classic example of
the love this man has for this dog. And
it really was only the beginning.
Ramey loved him so much she supported his OCD. Walk at 5:30am. Then the hurry, hurry calls
for her to do her morning constitution. Followed by a cart ride around the square, Ramey
reveling in her back seat throne taking everything in as she was driven around like a princess. This happened every morning before Daddy went to play
Pickleball. Ramey never wavered always
answering the call like the trooper she was.
She had much rather stay in bed as the evidence would show if Daddy ever
left her in Mom’s care!!
Mom, wow she was already a lover, and the main treat
giver but Ramey brought a new level and an example of unconditional love that elevated
everyone who she met to understand. I
think you can understand at this point this was a very special animal. Mom
loved her so much. Ramey cared for Mom when things weren’t going very well you could always count on her to walk in
the room lay her head on Mom’s lap and you could see the stress and pain
leaving her face for a brief moment while loving on Ramey.
Ramey also loved my wife. My wife was about the only person outside her
family that she wouldn’t bark at when we arrived at their home. I can remember walking into their house and
them saying “What Ramey didn’t even bark!” Ramey would walk over lift
her face up and my wife would rub all over that dog’s nose. Kiss her and love on her and she just stood
there loving every second of it. The family told us no one else could touch her
face but my wife.
Sadly Ramey has crossed the rainbow bridge. But how blessed we all are it was very quick
and hopefully painless for her. She got
sick one day and the next she was gone, only fitting for an animal that touched
us all in such a special way. Somehow I
can see Ramey lifting up her face and Bobbie, my wife’s mom who also loved that
dog, kissing that dog’s face and Ramey smiling.
I can see her going hurry hurry with Jordan who also loved that
dog. She is in a better place a place
where all the chicken treats she wants are there all the time. And no more 5:30am!!!
I am going to miss that dog and I never thought I
would say that in my life.
Love ya Ramey, kinda wish I had that picture hanging
in my house now. Wonder if David Ramey
knows how special that picture really is???
If you have a pet go hug it and give it a treat they
don’t stay forever. Think I’ll go get Rex and sit on in my chair for a while.
Peace,
The Blessed Man
