[nagdu] Getting another dog

[Angie Matney]

Well, I guess I'll weigh in with the opposite perspective. I took my last walk with Glaze the day before I left for The Seeing Eye to get Yani. I sort of had to do it that way. i was going to be working for two different law firms in two cities the folowing 
summer, and I wanted to have a dog during that time. But even if the situation hadn't demanded it, I think I would do the same thing again. I won't deny that making such an abrupt transition had its difficulties. I had forgotten what it feels like to move 
with a really young, enthusiastic dog. I was also feeling horribly guilty for sneaking away from Glaze the way I did (my dad distracted her with one of her favorite treats while I left with the friend who took me to the airport). 

On the whole, the uninterupted period of guide-dog mobility was good for me. I did use my cane more in the months leading up to Glaze's retirement. This was good, since I must confess that when I have a dog, I don't use my cane as much as I 
probably should. But I did realize that I *could* use my cane if I wanted to. The simple fact was that I didn't really want to.

It helped that I was in the position of being able to plan Glaze's retirement for several months. Maybe that made it easier to go directly from one dog to the next. I think I'll probably do the same thing when Yani retires, if I'm able to do it.

Angie