Photos from each chapter of Life After Kevin. Click the + in front of a chapter name to see the photos.
Prologue
Susan and Kevin 4 years old in 1994
Kevin with his first puppy “Bailey”
Kevin and Bailey waiting for their turn to go in the “ring” at Old Home Day
Kevin walking Bailey for the judges at Old Home day (they were awarded 1st place)
Kevin at Lake Winnipesaukee
Kevin with Luxa and Bailey climbing Pack Monadnock
Lake Winnipesaukee
Kevin and his favorite dog “Luxa” at Lake Winnipesaukee
Kevin at Lake Winnipesaukee
Kevin and Manny 2007
Kevin and Bailey 2007
Kevin and Tom, Mother’s Day 2009
Susan and Kevin, Mother’s Day 2009
Chapter 1: Pura Vida
Kevin and Weezie High School graduation
Kevin on a visit to California in 2013
Kevin and Tom listening to the parasailing instructions
More parasailing instructions: L to R: Tom, Kevin and Matthew
Prelaunch photo L to R: Tom, Kevin and Matthew (look closely at the carabiners)
Parasailing take off
Something’s not quite right (Kevin’s in the middle)
Matthew and Tom share a high 5 and realize Kevin’s dangling by one clip
Getting higher
Kevin surfing in Costa Rica
Villa in Costa Rica: view of the Pacific with Matthew juggling on the deck
White-faced Capuchin monkey off our deck
Toucan sighting from the villa deck
White water rafting in Costa Rica
The pre rafting family photo. L to R: Kevin, Matthew, Tom and Susan
Formal family photo on the villa deck. L to R: Tom, Susan, Kevin and Matthew
Chapter 2: The Last Good Show
Susan and Manny at the 2013 GRCA National Specialty in Texas getting ready to run Manny in Qualifying
Susan and Tripp at the 2014 GRCA National Specialty in Asheville, NC
Tripp gives Susan his attention in the conformation ring
Tripp won the hunting retriever class at the 2013 GRCA National Specialty
Manny and Graeme showing in Canada (far left)
Some of the member club flags at the National
Susan and Manny won Best of Breed at Hudson Valley Golden Retriever Specialty in 2015
Kev dancing (in Batman PJs) on New Years' Eve
Tom and Susan in 2003
Susan and Tripp at the 2015 GRCA National Specialty in Wilmington, OH after he finished his Master Hunter title
Chapter 3: Homeward Bound
Kevin (on the far right) at 710 Ashbury Street, San Francisco, the famous home of the Grateful Dead. This photo was taken the same day as our last phone call.
My route home from the 2015 National Specialty
Chapter 4: The Final Tour
The thrift store shirt Kevin had bought Tom
Kevin’s favorite hat signed by all members of the band “Twiddle”
Side view of the hat
As they became teens they did not like to pose for the Christmas card photo. Their clothes convey that message loud and clear (right down to Kevin’s signature look of mismatched socks) but hey, they are both smiling! L to R: Matthew with Luxa and Kevin with Manny (5 months old)
“Stick Kevin” with Kevin’s friends at Frendly Gathering music festival
“Stick Kevin” propped up on stage with the band “Twiddle”
Story about Kevin written by a co-worker
Kevin (in the white shirt) hugging a friend
A smattering of Kevin’s music festival tickets
L to R Kevin and Matthew at Cape Cod
L to R Matthew and Kevin the last night in Costa Rica. This is the photo described in the eulogy Matthew wrote and delivered.
Dog walking trail
Chapter 5: Kevin the Dog
Kevin with Manny the day he came home early to surprise Susan for her birthday
Kevin wearing Kacey’s sunglasses in California
Chapter 6: Endings and Beginnings
Kevin puts “Mackey” (an elf from Tom’s childhood Christmas) on the top of the Christmas tree
Kevin decorating the Christmas tree
Susan and Kevin take a break from decorating the tree
The last Christmas the cousins are all together in 2014 (Kevin on left and Matthew on right)
Our last Christmas Eve in 2014 at Tom’s brother’s house. L to R: Kevin, Susan, Tom and Matthew. Kevin is wearing his “sharpie guy” brown vest.
The Christmas ornament Susan found the first Christmas after Kevin died
Chapter 7: Following Their Lead
Tom helping Kevin hold the 42-inch striped bass Kevin caught in Provincetown MA
Kevin “smiling-with-his-whole-head”
Kevin and some friends before a baseball game
Kevin in the snow fort he built
L to R: Manny and Tripp out for a walk
The lotus sympathy card with the picking berries story inside
Chapter 8: The Results Are Posted
Susan in 1977 at the Boy’s Club awards dinner
Susan (middle) with her high school swim coach nervously focusing on the ‘time to beat’ listed on the clipboard
Susan and Manny (8 weeks old)
Manny 4th place in owner handled Qualifying field trial
Manny AKC Master Hunter
Manny AKC Utility Dog
Manny meets the requirements for the GRCA’s Dual Dog Hall of Fame
Graeme and Manny as a new AKC champion and first place in the Sporting Group
Susan and Manny going Best of Breed in 2015 at Hudson Valley GRC Specialty
Susan being presented with the Bill Lester Trophy at the 2013 GRCA National specialty in Wichita, TX
Susan and Manny in 2013 as the co-recipient of the CH/AFC Lorelei’s Golden Rockbottom UD trophy in Wichita, TX
Manny and Susan’s accomplishments for 2014: GRCA’s Bill Lester trophy, Yankee GRC Bench trophy and YGRC’s Versatility trophy
Chapter 9: Exercise Finished
Susan, Tripp and AKC obedience judge being awarded the highest scoring dog in trial (score 198.5)
The star toy prize
The ribbons Susan donated to 4-H
Tripp
Tripp having fun
Chapter 10: Bad Ways to Die
Grief group photo button
Kevin’s photo button from preschool
Matthew in South America
Chapter 11: One Bowl of Soup
Susan and Manny ready for a therapy dog visit
Manny listening to a child read at the library
A thank you note written by Kevin
Chapter 12: Meet Me at the Horizon
The “small piece of parchment paper in the top drawer” that the medium told me about
The Facebook post Susan wrote telling Kev she’d meet him at the horizon
We arrived early
Sun coming up
The dot to the right of the sun ON the horizon
Chapter 14: Whoops-a-Daisy
Susan and Tripp two days before he died
Donut Panic card
It will all be okay
Tom and Susan back in Costa Rica for their 30th wedding anniversary
One of the many toucans that would gather in a single tree by our villa
The daisy sympathy card I received from my veterinarian
Epilogue: How About Yes?
Tom and Rune’s littermate sister (men-in-hats socialization)
Susan and Rune at 8 weeks old, April 2020
Susan and Rune in 2020 after the start of the Life with Rune Facebook group
Susan and Rune 2021
The commemorative feather pin representing the Rachel Page Elliott Featherquest Lifetime Achievement Award Susan was awarded by the Golden Retriever Club of America for her work in creating the Life with Rune Facebook group
