There are some rules which must not be broken, like how a new angel crosses Rainbow Bridge, climbs the steps, gets sworn in, and is introduced to life in the immortal world. It has been that way since the first dog was mourned by man. Which is why I was stunned when I heard thunder rolling down the mountain accompanied by a cloud of dust. A black figure emerged from the forest at the edge of the mountains and came towards me like a rogue tornado. When it stopped in front of me, I was doubly shocked: Because a new angel came from mountains, not the water, and that newcomer was R the black dog, from the Romping and Rolling in the Rockies blog, who I had thought, until this moment, was indestructible. R had survived a shoulder replacement surgery, tumors, cancer, low red blood counts, blindness, and arthritis. Whenever life knocked him down, R fought back, never letting anything keep him down. Despite being blind, he never slowed down and made his way in the world like a