[Nfb-krafters-korner] OT: FW: GGM Babble All about a special dog

Wed Aug 17 13:25:15 UTC 2016

Thanks for this beautiful story.
henry and Sophie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Liz via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 7:50 AM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Cc: Liz
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] OT: FW: GGM Babble All about a special 
dog

Thank you for this! :)
Liz

> On Aug 17, 2016, at 6:14 AM, Powers, Terry (NIH/NCI) [E] via 
> Nfb-krafters-korner <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>
> Thanks for this beautiful story!
> I shaired it with my sisters and a friend.  All are dog lovers.
> Terry
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cathy Flesher via Nfb-krafters-korner 
> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2016 7:50 PM
> To: laura zeiser <walksalot at gmail.com>; todd flesher 
> <toddaflesher at sbcglobal.net>
> Cc: Cathy Flesher <flowersandherbs at gmail.com>; krafters korner 
> <Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] OT: FW: GGM Babble All about a special dog
>
> I don't forward mail much, but when I do, it is something special. this is 
> special.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: GGM-Babble at groups.io [mailto:GGM-Babble at groups.io] On Behalf Of 
> James Gagnier
> Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2016 1:09 PM
> To: GGM-Babble at groups.io
> Subject: GGM Babble All about a special dog
>
> They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying 
> in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really 
> friendly.
> I'd only been in the area for six months, but Everywhere I went in the 
> small college town, people Were welcoming and open. Everyone waves When 
> you pass them on the street. But something was still missing as I 
> attempted to settle In to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't 
> hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's 
> advertisement on the local news.
> The shelter Said they had received numerous calls right after, But they 
> said the people who had come down To see him just didn't look like "Lab 
> people,"
> Whatever that meant. They must've thought I did. But at first, I thought 
> the shelter had misjudged me In giving me Reggie and his things, which 
> consisted Of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were Brand new 
> tennis balls, his dishes and A sealed letter from his previous owner. See, 
> Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for 
> two weeks (which is how long the shelter Told me to give him to adjust to 
> his new home).
> Maybe it Was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too 
> much alike. I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten About 
> that. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see If your previous owner 
> has any advice."
> _______________
> To Whomever Gets My Dog:
> Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, A letter I told the 
> shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy 
> writing it. He knew something was different. So let me tell you about my 
> Lab in the hopes That it will help you bond with him and he with you. 
> First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's 
> part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his 
> mouth, and he tries to get A third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't 
> matter where You throw them, he'll bound after them, so be careful. Don't 
> do it by any roads. Next, commands. Reggie knows the Obvious 
> ones ---"sit," "stay,"
> "come," "heel." He knows hand signals, too: He knows "ball" And "food" and 
> "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business. Feeding schedule: twice a day, 
> regular Store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand. He's up on his 
> shots.
> Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I 
> don't know how he Knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.
> Finally, give him some time. It's only been Reggie and Me for his whole 
> life. He's gone everywhere with me, So please include him on your daily 
> car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or 
> complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially. And 
> that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you... His name's not 
> Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of 
> that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name.
> But if someone is reading this ... well it means that his new owner should 
> know his real name. His real name is "Tank." Because, that is what I 
> drive.
> I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption 
> until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents 
> are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with ... and it 
> was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they 
> make one phone call to the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell them 
> that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my company commander is a 
> dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it 
> personally.
> And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word. Tank has been 
> my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my 
> family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, 
> too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved 
> me. If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to 
> the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. 
> I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades. All right, 
> that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at 
> the shelter. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that 
> third tennis ball in his mouth. Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, 
> and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me. Thank you, 
> Paul Mallory
>
> I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard 
> of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local 
> kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver 
> Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at 
> half-mast all summer. I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on 
> my knees, staring at the dog. "Hey, Tank," I said quietly. The dog's head 
> whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright. "C'mere boy." He was 
> instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in 
> front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in 
> months. "Tank," I whispered. His tail swished. I kept whispering his name, 
> over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his 
> posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I 
> stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and 
> hugged him. "It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to 
> me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some 
> ball?" His ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore 
> from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, 
> he had three tennis balls in his mouth. If you can read this without 
> getting a lump in your throat or a tear in your eye, you just ain't right.
>
> "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but 
> because he loves what is behind him." G. K. Chesterton
>
>
>
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