[nagdu] Kirby

[margo]

Meghan, thanks for a wonderful, moving post! Here's a hug and 
give that girl a have-go for me.  Margo and Arrow

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,	the National Association of Guide Dog 
Users"<nagdu at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Wed, 13 Jul 2011 08:13:22 -0400
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Kirby

Neghhan,
    What a touching post! Your words echoed within me as I 
remembered making
the difficult decision to retire my Louiza! All of our guides 
have a special
place in our hearts! Give Kirby a scratch behind the ears for 
Sarge & me!

Peace!
Marion



----- Original Message -----
From: "Meghan Whalen" <mewhalen at gmail.com
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; <wagdu at nfbwis.org>; 
<buddy-l at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 8:24 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Kirby


 Today was one I will not forget anytime soon.  I took a short 
walk with my
 Kirby, and together, we understood this is too hard for her.  
She stumbles
 over objects on the sidewalk and can only safely move us around 
obstacles
 if they are at her eye level.  Each time she failed to make a 
clearance,
 she jumped back and tried to self-correct, but she couldn't see 
the
 obstacles to successfully do so.

 I am going to do my best to remember the confidence in her pull 
as she
 found our driveway on the way home rather than focus on what she 
struggled
 with.  Our last few steps together in harness were just as 
graceful and
 confident as every stride we have shared over the years, and I 
am going to
 hang onto that.

 Devastated is an understatement.  She as rarely if ever worked 
over the
 last month, because I have been in denial, and I didn't want the 
constant
 reminder that it was time.  I decided today that I would make 
the decision
 as to if she was fully retired when we arrived back home, and 
sadly, my
 lady cannot do what she loves anymore.  Our bond is one that is 
so strong
 that she is at my side whenever I am home.  She is my constant 
shadow, and
 she longs to be with me when I am away.

 This dog has my heart, just as her predecessor and her future 
successors
 will, though she has her own unique piece of it.  Kirby is the 
dog who
 taught me to pause and enjoy the little things.  She is the one 
who taught
 me to work hard and play even more hard.  It is my hope and my 
dream that
 her retirement will be filled with enough hard play to help her 
not miss
 her work so much.

 Thank you for pairing my footsteps with pawprints for over four 
years.
 Thank you for soaking my tears in your coat when I felt lost in 
life.
 Thank you for the many times you refused to go into the street 
when I told
 you to, because a last minute car blew a light or turned in 
front of us.
 Thank you for making it through those first two years together.  
You gave
 me a run for my money, but all of the work was worth it, because 
in the
 end, together, we were perfection.  I want you to understand 
that though
 you are retired, though eventually I will move your harness from 
the hook
 by the door, I will never let go of the bond we share.  No one 
will ever
 replace you.  My new guide will do things differently, and I 
will always
 remember your grace, your kindness, your doubtless devotion and 
faith...I
 love you Kirby Lee!

 Let's hang up the harness, play some fetch, romp at the lake 
shore and
 race through the sunshine.  You are staying right here beautiful 
one, and
 I will make your world meaningful again.

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