[nagdu] A Day Early

[Linda Gwizdak]

Great story, Meghen!  Now, is Kirby to be Jade's guide dog - or does Jade 
get a guide cat! (grin!)

Good, pups, the both of them and you're fortunate that you are able to keep 
both dogs.

Cheers,

Linda and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 9:25 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] A Day Early


> Meghan, What a beautiful story. That was the kind of relationship my first 
> dog Sharna and I had. I'm glad you have the memories to treasure and 
> Jade's love. Thank you for such a nice story.
>
> Sherri
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ann Chiappetta" <dungarees at optonline.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 6:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] A Day Early
>
>
>> That's a great story and your girls are very lucky to have you in their 
>> lives.
>> Regards and wags,
>> Annie & Ro
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Meghan Whalen" <meghan at n-republic.net>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 6:11 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] A Day Early
>>
>>
>>> I'm going to be gone all day tomorrow, so I wanted to take a moment to 
>>> write about a very beautiful little girl.  When Kirby and I walk in the 
>>> door every afternoon, we are greeted by a very joyous little female 
>>> shepherd.  At six, Jade still wants the harness, but due to a couple of 
>>> eye conditions, she is going blind and has been retired since she was 
>>> three and a half.
>>>
>>> Even though she cannot physically guide me, she does not need her 
>>> harness to show me the way.  She helped me to learn to let go because of 
>>> love. She taught me not to be selfish, and she was the first dog to show 
>>> me how to glide down the sidewalk.  Though my footsteps are now 
>>> partnered with Kirby's pawprints, I know Jade is always walking with me, 
>>> too.
>>> The panis has stabalized enough that she no longer needs drops, and she 
>>> can still play fetch.  We bump into each other now and then, but she is 
>>> no worse for the wear.  She loves her walks, and I know her dreams still 
>>> involve a harness and a gentle scratch behind the ears.  I do my best to 
>>> give her the closest to what we had, but unfortunately, she can't go 
>>> most places now.  All I can do is be sure to let her know how much I 
>>> love her when I am home.
>>> Saturday, June 27, 2009 will mark four years since I met this lovely 
>>> little lady.  This date marks four years since the multi-week cycle of 
>>> sleepless nights.  This dog surely did not want to be mine at first. 
>>> She wanted her trainer, and she had no time for me.  She cried all night 
>>> and screamed when I took showers without her in the bathroom with me. 
>>> She did not eat for four days, and she just about took off my arm when 
>>> she knew there was a chance she would see her trainer.
>>>    At 17, I was the youngest in class, and I had the most emotional dog. 
>>> I was going to have a dog switch, but I insisted that if she could love 
>>> so much it would all be worth it when she loved me that much.  Well, we 
>>> made it, and we had 19 wonderful months together.  I couldn't ask for a 
>>> better dog.  Even though our time was short, we had such a complete 
>>> bond. Once we were home, she didn't have her trainer to turn to anymore, 
>>> and within minutes, she was mine.  On our flight home, she got nervous 
>>> once, I made her lie right back down, and from then on, I had her sold 
>>> on the fact that I was there for her as long as she was there for me. 
>>> Losing our partnership was a devistating blow, but I will always look 
>>> back on our short time as a team, and I know for certain that she was 
>>> exactly the dog I needed.  I know Kirby is exactly the dog I need right 
>>> now, and the fack that I can sit on the floor with one of them on each 
>>> side of me is a true representation of my good fortune.  To both of
>>> my girls, you are my angels, and together, you have taught me that 
>>> nothing is impossible.  Dreams are tangible, and every end is actually a 
>>> beautiful new beginning.
>>>
>>> Meghan with Jade (June 27, 2005, and Kirby (May 28, 2007)
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>>
>>
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>
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