This weekend we were planning to attend the 6th Annual New England Golden Jubilee at Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury, VT. But alas, like so many other events, this one had to be canceled until next year. However, the organizers Andy and Grant, as well as their humans, Sandra and Peter, do not believe in droopy tails. Therefore, they are hosting a virtual New England Golden Jubilee tomorrow, Saturday, May 16, 2020 on Facebook. They are encouraging all past attendees to share their favorite memories. This way we can all be together, while apart! So today Asa and I decided to flip through our old scrapbooks to pick our favorite New England Golden Jubilee memories.

Chuck Billy: Remember how exciting it was to stay in a hotel for the first time? The folks at the St. Johnsbury Comfort Suites even welcomed us with new tennis balls!

Asa: Remember Chuck Billy how you thought it was your responsibility to guard the entire hotel that first night? Thankfully, once you realized you could watch new episodes of your favorite TV show, you calmed down.

Chuck Billy: Enough about the hotel. Remember when we first arrived at Dog Mountain, and were greeted by all those Golden Retrievers? We instantly felt welcomed. We made many lasting friendships over the years at the Jubilee.

Asa: I met my father, Daddy Spenser, for the first time at the Jubilee! Oh and remember the year we hung out with our half-brother, Duke?

Chuck Billy: And who can forget last year when Chompski started flirting with you and left you speechless?

Asa: That’s a very special memory! *sigh* Another special moment was when we added Lemmy’s name to the walls of Dog Chapel. Mom looked so sad. But then that women we never met before, gave her a big hug and told her she understood. That’s all she said, but it meant the world to Mom to finally be among people who understood our grief.

Chuck Billy: Enough droopy tail talk, remember those lush hills of green! The best games of fetch we ever played were at Dog Mountain!

Asa: And there were tennis balls everywhere! Remember how while at the top of the hill I spied that dog in the distance with the ChuckIt launcher? I bolted down the hill at full sprint, caught the ball midair, and then landed in the lake! I still feel a bit embarrassed for interrupting their game. But boy was that fun!

Chuck Billy: That’s not the only thing you stole at the Jubilee. I’ll never forget the year where you took a squeaky toy while they were setting up for the Kibble Cup Auction to benefit the Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue. Mom was so embarrassed chasing you around as she tried to get that toy back!

Asa: Ok, not my finest moment. But I didn’t dare dream that I could be so lucky as to win a prize in the auction, but sure enough I did! Nothing beats though the prize I won for Mom last year of the tote bag made with authentic Guisachan plaid from the ancestral home of Golden Retrievers in Scotland. Speaking of bags, how about the swag bag every registered attendee received filled with awesome gifts from the sponsors of the New England Golden Jubilee?

Chuck Billy: I admit I’ve had an embarrassing moment there too. One year I was so excited about the 100 tennis ball toss, that I refused to come out of the pond and almost dragged Dad in with me. Seeing all those tennis balls to retrieve was amazing! No wonder I didn’t want to leave!

Chuck Billy: Not to brag, but I achieved my personal best of most tennis balls retrieved at once in that pond.

Asa: And don’t forget all the silly moments over the years. I’ll never forget the impromptu game of pass the bikini chicken!

Chuck Billy: I laughed so hard the year when rather than pose for group photos on the hill, some pups decided to make a game of rolling down it.

Asa: We sure have a lot of amazing memories of the Jubilee. But which one will be our favorite to share at the virtual New England Golden Jubilee tomorrow?

Chuck Billy: Our friends will just have to wait to find out! If you have a memory to share from previous Jubilees at Dog Mountain, are curious to see what this event is all about so you can plan attending next year on May 15, 2021, or simply need a Golden grin to help you through these uncertain times, log-on to New England Golden Jubilee on Facebook tomorrow, Saturday, May 16, 2020, click Visit Group, and join the Together, While Apart – Virtual New England Golden Jubilee Party!