October 18th was made up of 2 parts. It ended up being the day that my sweet girl Solstice was going to be graduating with her new person, and my 2 best friends were getting married. Here is to one day that was full of so much love, happiness, and sweating eyes!
Part One:
I was not able to sleep because: a) I was with the guys celebrating Joe's last day as a non-married man...and b) knowing that in a few hours I was going to be headed up to San Rafael to spend an hour or so with my sweet girl and her new person. Both events left me with so many emotions.
I was over the moon that Solstice had found her match and was going to start her new life working. Solstice is one of my most proud accomplishments. She brought so much joy to everyone that she met and is now on her way to helping make the life of her new person,
Mr. E.
I am not going to lie... During the entire ride up to San Rafael I was crying my eyes out. The unknown has been so hard to accept. Waiting week to week to see where she's as and what phase she maybe in, and then to hear that she was getting pulled for graduation was a last-minute shock to my system. I was so overwhelmed with emotions.
The moment that my sweet girl and her person walked in was one moment of complete happiness. She walked into the room with her nose sniffing away. Then she made eye contact with me and Mr. E dropped her leash and she wiggled her way over to me in a hot hurry. That moment... knowing that she didn't forget me and was still so excited to me.. is something I cannot explain. She was so excited.
I finally sat on the ground and she continued to wiggle, circle/rub on me, and lick me. She finally sat in my lap facing me practically nose to nose and looked into my eyes... it was as if she was saying to me, "Mom.. where have you been? I have so much to tell you!"
We were then able to sit down at the table and get to know her person. Mr. E is such an amazing person. He already had so much love for her. That feeling of the unknown melted away because I could see she was going to be in great in hands. Mr. E was at the head of the table and I was to his left. Solstice had positioned herself between Mr. E and me. Her head and paw on my feet and her back and tail on Mr.E's feet. It was a total "Solstice moment" as if she was bridging her past life with her new life.
As we continued to chat, my heart continued to grow in happiness. Mr. E is truly a great person with a big heart. To hear how important a guide dog is to him just solidified why I did this. All the emotions that I was going through was all worth it to see the impact that this sweet girl will have on him and the confidence that she provides him.
Thanks to Mr. E being willing to keep in touch, I will be able to keep you all updated on how his sweet girl is doing and adjusting. She will be adjusting to life in Houston, Texas working with her lawyer. I can hear her now snoring in an important trial tucked under his chair.
Big puppy hugs and lots of love and great success sent to these two. May they find a way to become the best team around!
Another BIG thank you to Mary Harris and the Guide Dog School for the Blind for providing me with this opportunity. I am forever thankful!
Part two to be continued...
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| After lots of tears I finally get to see my sweet girl! |
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| Solstice curling up on my feet just like she use to. Feel asleep too! |
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| Solstice bridging her past life with me to her new life with Mr. E. Totally a Solstice moment! |
Mr. E getting Solstice ready after we got to visit! No more green vest.. hello handle harness!
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| My heart melts seeing Mr. E and Solstice together. He already loves her so much. Makes all my concerns melt away. They are great together! |
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| So grown up. Love this girl!! |
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| Sure I will pose for you. Check out my new handle!! |
