I wrote this a few weeks ago, before Thanksgiving and after our club's Earthdog tests in early Nov. Just some things that crossed my mind during the three days and on the drive home. Finally got this up and hopefully still timely!
One of the guys who came to help dig-in on Friday (for you novices, thats when we do the digging of the earthdog tunnels -with aid of a backhoe thank goodness!) was a guy who came to his first ED a couple of years ago with his wife looking to learn more about Border Terriers. Well, they eventually did get a nice girl BT from N Ca and they have been at ED ever since. He has helped dig-in at the past 4 trials and last week he was the first non-committee person there to help. Because I hadnt seen him since the spring ED trial, I asked him how he had been, how was the dog doing and how was his wife who was also on our Specialty trophy committee. He told me she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer awhile back and had just finished her latest chemo. So she likely wouldnt be there for ED but he would see if she wanted to come watch on Sunday. They arent that old, maybe in their late 40s or early 50s. The dog was staying home with her on Friday- taking his place. He worked his butt off all day Friday. He never complained, we shared a few laughs about the tunnels and the tree roots, and then he left for home. When you are a caregiver, you sometimes just need a little time "off duty", even if it is hard manual labor, to maintain your own peace of mind.
On Sunday, there was a couple at ED with their BT who also are relatively new members. That day their dog earned his first Qualifying run. They had guests with them. A dazzlingly beautiful blonde young lady and her mom. Maybe in her late 30s with short cropped blonde hair and a smile that would light up any room. Drop-dead gorgeous didn't do her justice. I dont know if she had muscular distrophy, or had a stroke or was in an accident, but most of her right side was heavily injured from the neck down. She walked with her mom and her BT friends to watch the JE and IQ tests and seemed very much at ease with the hand that life had dealt her. Her friends said she loved seeing the dogs and meeting and holding a few of them. As I watched them leave on Sunday I was glad the club members had brought her, glad she had what seemed like a pleasant time, and thankful that "but for the grace of God, there goes I". I'm sure I wouldnt have been that courageous, that resilient or that forgiving.
Then there was the club member family who came on Sat and ran their dogs but had to leave early because their son was going to call home that evening. He was at Ft. Benning in Georgia, just completing his Infantry Basic Training that very day. They didn't know where he would be stationed afterwards. Mom was abit worried, Dad was proud and said he could notice more maturity in the way his son talked on the phone. But you could tell that as proud as they were, and as happy for their son who was thrilled with his career choice as they were, they were hoping he'd be able to stay out of harm's way. He was training to be a medic in a infantry platoon. Helping his fellow soldiers when they might need him most.
Finally on the drive home through the Central Valley and the ranches there, I just happened to look over as I drove past a farmhouse and saw two teenage boys in the driveway. They were walking down the drive twirling lariats. Big, roping lariats and each was doing the "cowboy twirl" with a loop about 10 feet in diameter spinning around their body as they walked. No Sunday afternoon TV football for them, no video games, no Twitter. Just old fashioned, simple, western, cowboy fun. If I hadnt just happend to look at that instant, I'd have missed it. Probably the only kids like that in existence anymore!
Things to think about this holiday season.
One of the guys who came to help dig-in on Friday (for you novices, thats when we do the digging of the earthdog tunnels -with aid of a backhoe thank goodness!) was a guy who came to his first ED a couple of years ago with his wife looking to learn more about Border Terriers. Well, they eventually did get a nice girl BT from N Ca and they have been at ED ever since. He has helped dig-in at the past 4 trials and last week he was the first non-committee person there to help. Because I hadnt seen him since the spring ED trial, I asked him how he had been, how was the dog doing and how was his wife who was also on our Specialty trophy committee. He told me she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer awhile back and had just finished her latest chemo. So she likely wouldnt be there for ED but he would see if she wanted to come watch on Sunday. They arent that old, maybe in their late 40s or early 50s. The dog was staying home with her on Friday- taking his place. He worked his butt off all day Friday. He never complained, we shared a few laughs about the tunnels and the tree roots, and then he left for home. When you are a caregiver, you sometimes just need a little time "off duty", even if it is hard manual labor, to maintain your own peace of mind.
On Sunday, there was a couple at ED with their BT who also are relatively new members. That day their dog earned his first Qualifying run. They had guests with them. A dazzlingly beautiful blonde young lady and her mom. Maybe in her late 30s with short cropped blonde hair and a smile that would light up any room. Drop-dead gorgeous didn't do her justice. I dont know if she had muscular distrophy, or had a stroke or was in an accident, but most of her right side was heavily injured from the neck down. She walked with her mom and her BT friends to watch the JE and IQ tests and seemed very much at ease with the hand that life had dealt her. Her friends said she loved seeing the dogs and meeting and holding a few of them. As I watched them leave on Sunday I was glad the club members had brought her, glad she had what seemed like a pleasant time, and thankful that "but for the grace of God, there goes I". I'm sure I wouldnt have been that courageous, that resilient or that forgiving.
Then there was the club member family who came on Sat and ran their dogs but had to leave early because their son was going to call home that evening. He was at Ft. Benning in Georgia, just completing his Infantry Basic Training that very day. They didn't know where he would be stationed afterwards. Mom was abit worried, Dad was proud and said he could notice more maturity in the way his son talked on the phone. But you could tell that as proud as they were, and as happy for their son who was thrilled with his career choice as they were, they were hoping he'd be able to stay out of harm's way. He was training to be a medic in a infantry platoon. Helping his fellow soldiers when they might need him most.
Finally on the drive home through the Central Valley and the ranches there, I just happened to look over as I drove past a farmhouse and saw two teenage boys in the driveway. They were walking down the drive twirling lariats. Big, roping lariats and each was doing the "cowboy twirl" with a loop about 10 feet in diameter spinning around their body as they walked. No Sunday afternoon TV football for them, no video games, no Twitter. Just old fashioned, simple, western, cowboy fun. If I hadnt just happend to look at that instant, I'd have missed it. Probably the only kids like that in existence anymore!
Things to think about this holiday season.
