30 Days of Gratitude: Encouragement and Inspiration
As my 30 Days of Gratitude project comes to an end, I have to acknowledge the person who suggested I do it in the first place.
I met Jess in the summer of 2011 when CM and I were in an open level obedience class at Tails Up. She was in that class with Mac, her Flat Coated Retriever. I have liked FCRs for a long time. Many who know me well, know I am a “one dog one breed” person; meaning, I have a list of breeds I hope to have share my life, as long as I am capable of dog management.
I have to laugh when I think back to our first few conversations. Jess is reserved and I…..well, I am not. I am sure I just gushed over Mac. Mac is a beautiful and exuberant boy! I marveled at how enthusiastically he did the open exercises and how cheerfully he accepted correction, tail wagging the entire time. CM, on the other hand, as is true of many Tollers, was much more serious, even sullen at times. She challenged me, as a first time trainer in advanced obedience. But having Jess and Mac in class helped us get through the rough patches.
Jess and I got to know each other better over the fall. She sent me the link to her blog where I discovered what an absolutely brilliant writer she is. I recall being moved to tears by some of the raw emotion she wrote about when describing her response to the loss of her heart dog, Jay. We discovered that we share a love of nature and the outdoors. She impressed me with her photography as well as mixology skills. In November, she shared that Mac’s sister Bea had been bred and was due with a litter in January, 2012. She planned to take a puppy from that litter. I started thinking that maybe I was ready for my next puppy. Unfortunately, all the pups in that litter were spoken for, with a waiting list 3-4 deep. I then set about researching breeders and planning my next move.
In February, Jess went to see the litter to pick out her puppy. I so remember that weekend! Jess messaged me through Facebook and said “There is a really nice boy in this litter who should go to a show/performance home instead of the pet home he's slated for....Just throwing that out there. :)” I was shocked. Excited. Nervous. I wasn’t sure how that all would work. Jess convinced the breeder that I was the right match for this puppy. The first Saturday in March, I flew to Chicago to meet him. The rest is history.
Jess has been a wonderful support for me as I move through this journey as a novice owner of a FCR boy. Fortunately, my golden retriever Molly prepared me somewhat for the high energy that Jet has brought to our household, but Jess is always ready with answer to a specific FCR question. Jet absolutely adores her. We have field trained together and have been back in obedience class together with the brothers. I shared her grief in the passing of Bea last year and we have supported each other through other health issues with our dogs. Over the last couple years, Jess has evolved from just a dog friend. She is now one of the first people I contact when something significant….or amusing….is happening in my life. When she ran the marathon for the first time this year, I brought the dogs to cheer her on. I am so proud of her for accomplishing this formidable goal. She is the source of those most beautiful photographs of me and my pack that I will cherish forever.
I have written previously about people in my life who have influenced its trajectory and Jess is another one of those people. I marvel at the fact that I have such a strong connection with someone who is 13 years my junior. After all, our paths simply would not have crossed 20 years ago. But Jess has an old soul. Her writing reveals that. Last year, she encouraged me to take up writing again and helped me set up a blog. I had enjoyed writing as a school aged person, but, like playing the piano, it had been put on a shelf to make room for other things. Although I was a little intimidated to start, I have really enjoyed the process of putting my own thoughts together and the art of choosing the perfect word.
When Jess suggested I do the 30 Days of Gratitude project, she encouraged me to share it on Facebook. I must admit, it made me a little nervous to share some of my more personal feelings and ideas. But the experience has been wonderful. I realized, about halfway through the month, that many people have responded positively to my posts, for a wide variety of reasons. Writing is a powerful way of connecting with others.
Today I thank Jess for sharing her dogs, her writings, her humor, her cocktails, her photography skills and most importantly, her soul with me. I thank her for encouraging me to do this project and share it with you. I am a better person for having her in my life.