Pokey Update

Yup, that’s right…another pokey update. I was down with a nasty cold for about a week and put off Maudie’s vet appointment. We need to get a wellness check, then go to Dove Lewis to get “our papers” and talk about assignments.

The test itself. I’m not sure I addressed that yet. What I will remember is a beautiful sunny day in a parking lot behind a business park in Hillsboro, power lines framing the view, long low storage buildings filling the role of small storefronts. I ran Maudie up and back on the tarmac to relax us both, reminded her not to pull on her leash and we went and signed in.

There was a closed circuit camera in the test space airing on a tv set in the waiting room. It was impossible to really watch, so we sat and waited. And while we waited we watched dog after dog come out the door they went in, meaning they didn’t get through to the end.

I don’t think I really doubted us; and we were both in playful moods.
I was a little nervous, but I always remember that by the time we get there—the test site, the show ring—we are as ready as we are, no more, no less and all we can do now is show up, stay calm and try to have fun. After all, we are together and that’s the whole point, to be spending time with my dog.

Once in the room—a doggie daycare playground---Maudie became distracted and a little worried, but I kept focused and worked to keep her with me. It was a little hard because our tester explained every little part of the exercise after I had been studying the minutae for years already and I wanted to get on with it and not stand there trying to listen. I felt pretty obnoxious and impatient, but I also know that if we keep moving we can stay more focused. Of course, doing therapy work involves a lot of sitting around and being patient…but not under the same kind of pressure.

Maudie was Maudie despite her “float” and that means, stalwart, sweet and trying to do what was asked, but I could tell that she was only about one third present. It wasn’t a solid performance, but I think enough of our energy came to the surface to indicate that we are truly a capable team…and so we made it.

After the test, we sat and chatted with our tester and she took our photo and we left. A woman with a labradoodle was also in the “passed room” and I’m not sure I could say if anyone else ended up getting that far. I don’t know.

I was supremely happy and proud. And I even had the presence of mind to get air in the tire I was almost sure was going to go flat on the way TO the test.

Maudie was tired and M & I went and test rode some steel bikes with dropped bars, learned a lot about what size I needed and then went home and took a long nap….

Maudie and I went for a bike ride in the afternoon. I became aware of the long fingers of a virus sneaking into my capillaries. Even so I spent the next 4 days riding steel road bikes, bought a Jamis Aurora and then collapsed. I slept for 3 days.

Sad News

(photo: Jancada Tender O’Kings Valley, R.O.M., dam of 14 Champions - top producing dam and held that record for over 20 years. b12-28-73, d.7-31-84)

I learned this morning that Eva Rappaport, the matriarch of Kings Valley Collies, passed away yesterday at home.
We only met Eva a few times, but each time were mighty impressed with her energy and vision, as an artist, trainer, breeder and lover of collies. The few times we spent together were intense with energy and conversation as we had so much to share, especially as artists and lovers of collies. I always regretted the fact that we were unable to make it to the 2 social occasions at KV to which we were invited: a Passover seder and Eva's birthday...and actually they both might've been the same one. I felt so honored to have been invited. But I feared, had we gone, that I would have been unable to join any conversation NOT about collies. Kings Valley, with its' long narrow gravel entrances is like Disneyland to me, even the gates hum with portent and promise.

The last time we saw her was the day we took the papillons down to KV to meet Maudie and make sure she could be our collie. (that story appears in an earlier entry). Eva was housebound and in a wheelchair and as we entered the house from the yard, I was overwhelmed with an urge to hug her. Despite the fact that she had been through so much physical trauma, it seemed to me that not an ounce of her strength was gone. Perhaps she had softened a little, but that might've been my perception of what was her willingness to share my wide open happiness. We shared the joy and excitement; both Eva and Leslie understood what it meant that I was finally going to have a collie again, and such a splendid collie "in her prime" Eva said, at that.
And when it comes down to it, I think that that is what made me want a KV collie above all others; Eva's deep acknowledgement of the collie soul.
I hope that as Eva's soul journeys onwards, she will be met with the music of all the collies that have been waiting for her, and they will surround her with joy.
Here on earth, we have Leslie and the collies to carry on the legacy.

We Did It!!!

More later....but for those who are checking...we passed the Delta Society/ Dove Lewis Pet Partners certification test today!
I have wanted this day for so long!

tommorrow: the certification test

The night before has arrived. I have thought about this for so long and tommorrow will be our official entry. Maudie and I may not be seasoned, but we're ready: clean, willing and ready to roll. Wish us luck!!

If I had any sense I'd quite eating chocolate bars and go to bed! The best thing I could do now is get a good night's sleep. But I'm obsessed wth steel road bikes...and the internet is a vortex of information...!!