Sunday, September 20, 2009

The last two days!

Well leave it to me to not write here on the last two, and most important and fantastic days! So, we'll try to recap the highlights!
 
Friday was mostly a fun day. In the morning, we went to the mall. It wasn't so much for training with the dogs, as it was for, um, shopping! Some people bought souvenirs, gifts, etc. Some just walked around and window-shopped. It was a very relaxed trip! I went to a couple of stores and bought gifts for all the folks at home, which meant that I got to practice hauling around a very heavy bag! Doable, but then, I already knew this!
 
Friday afternoon was the wrap-up. We got an enormous binder of info about our dogs, and GDB in general, much of which is dreadfully inaccessible, but we won't complain here. I already did that, to people who might carry the message to the powers that be. Poshi saw the vet, who said that her ear is getting better, and no more meds after we leave here. Very good news, although I already knew it was getting better! Also started making preparations for going home. Amazing how settled in you can get after only three weeks! I feel like I'm dismantling a home!
 
Friday night was wonderful! I went out to dinner with one of Posh's puppy raisers, Katie, and her daughter Brittani. We had a terriffic time getting to know each other, and marveling at what a spectacular girl our Posh is! She behaved herself perfectly, and she and I showed off our stuff a little bit. We also laughed a great deal, which seems to be a theme of this trip!
 
Saturday! Graduation day! Nothing normal about this day, except perhaps the first couple of relieving times! There was a teeny lecture in the morning, and then we were left to it to pack. I couldn't do this, since my suitcase had died, and I was awaiting a couple of replacements being brought by my sister and brother-in-law! What a fine rescue! But it did mean that I had to pack later, which gave me some downtime, which I put to good use, grooming Poshi and me! Early lunch, and a quick visit with the afore-mentioned sister and BIL, (Marj and Bob), last-minute change of clothes, and the puppy raisers were there! I don't know if I have it in my power to describe this time. Very emotional, of course. The raisers are so joyous to see their dogs that they have loved and taught and inevitably given up which is the most generous thing I can imagine! I'm sure there must be some sadness too! And the dogs, who are ecstatic to see their beloved first family again! And so much catching up to do, in so little time! Katie and Brittani were there, and Sharon and Anna, who raised Posh from about four and a half months to the time she came back to GDB! They brought me lovely gifts, too, as if Posh weren't enough! After an hour or so, they had us go in to have our pictures taken. Some of my raisers were a bit shy, and didn't get snapped, but we won't pick on them! Hopefully, they turned out well!
 
Soon after that, it was time for me to relieve the wee girl, which she did not find amusing in the least! She knew her other people were waiting for her, so she hurried! Then, I turned her over to these four lovely and amazing women, and off I went to await presentation at the graduation ceremony.
 
If you've been to a graduation, you know how special it is! If you haven't, it's hard to express it. It's one of the things GDB does really well. After a brief explanation of the program and an introduction of the instructors, each student is called up, along with the people who raised their puppy. The dog is presented to the student/grad, and everyone has the opportunity to say a few words. The stories and expressions of love and thanks are just incredible. Thanks to my last name, I was last, which I enjoyed a lot. I got to watch my classmates do their stuff, and I was proud of them all! When it was my turn, I realized that I could have taken all that time to figure out what I wanted to say, but instead, I was clueless! I have no idea what actually came out, but I got a few compliments, so I'm assuming I did okay. Herself was, of course, perfect, just lying at my side. There was a brief demonstration of obedience and guide work, and the show was over! Time to mingle with the raisers, and my family, and some friends! April and Tim and the kids were there, although April didn't get to see the show, since she had to work. I'm sure the kids were fairly bored by the time it was my turn, although I understand they were helped through it by a little five-month-old version of Poshi, sitting beside them! Puppies are so cool!
 
Bob and Marj and April and Tim and Ryan and Jane and Poshi and I all went out to dinner afterwards. It was a very fun time, although probably the last thing I needed was yet another terriffic meal! Oh well, the diet begins tomorrow!
 
We got back to the dorm early, and it was time to begin packing, finally! I did most of it last night, got a few hours sleep, and went back to it this morning.
 
I'm mostly done, I hope! I'm off to have a quick shower, and go hug the first group before they leave at 4:45! I'm lucky enough to be in the second group, who have a more leisurely agenda! We don't have to be on the bus till six! And then a very long trip, two flights, back to Des Moines. Where we'll get down to the business of living! How very full my life feels now! It's been an incredible three weeks, and it's only been the beginning!
 
See you, as they say, on the flip side! Love to all!
 
 
 
  
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1 comment:

  1. CarinSeptember 20, 2009 at 6:05 AM

    Don't be so hard on yourself for waiting to post the last two days. Anyone who knows anything about those days knows they're harried times 12.

    the binders were dreadfully inaccessible two years ago. It would be cool if they could put the stuff on the stream. That would rock my socks off.

    wow, that's quite the gang going out for dinner.

    Good luck with all your flights. And good luck with all your new beginnings!

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