A Day to Remember

  That damned alarm clock had the nerve to go off at 5:30 in the AM. It was a long drive to the dog show in IL through pea-soup fog. Even "I" had to concede and slow down. It added at least an hour to the drive so I was a tinch rattled when I got there, set up and plopped Mariah onto the table. She gave me a kiss on the nose as if to say "It's alright mom.... you don't have to brush me much. I look pretty good just as I am!" And the thought crossed my mind. "Nice try, Mariah...."

  I went about the business of doing Mariah's show prep and before I knew it I was done and then it was Courtney's turn. Maybe having time constraints is a good thing because I didn't have time to devil the girls with all sorts of nervous brushing and fussing. I did have some extra time so I gave Sue a hand with some of her fluffies too.

  Then the moment of truth came since I had done ALL the show prep on my girls including the trimming, which was an agonizingly slow process that took me 3 days of studying, fussing and a snip snip here/ snip snip there. Okay so drum roll please... Sue picked up her scissors and approached. She studied Courtney's head this way; she studied it that way.... She trimmed off a few stray hairs behind one ear and one or two snips to balance a perfectly balanced head plain and declared her work done! Whew...maybe I CAN trim my dogs.

  Interlocking is one of those old-fashioned independent specialty shows held in a private building. Unlike a multi-breed specialty site, it's much more intimate and fun and (even more important) quiet! Mariah and I went into the ring and I was very proud of her. She looked and acted like a show dog! Yea!!!! We are making lots of progress. I think (wonder) if I'm confident because she's confident because I'm confident because she's.... well you get the idea. We both had fun, which IS the thing of the thing, right? We were 3rd in the class. I heard tell that the bitches that were ahead of us went 1st and 2nd in their classes at the National...as if that made a difference to me. I was proud of Mariah because I was proud of her. The rest will happen in time. ;)

  And then came Best Of Breed competition! When I walked into that ring yesterday and looked down at Courtney, I still couldn't believe this beautiful creature belongs to me. She was so sparkly, so alive....I almost forgot where I was and wanted to reach down and scrunch her ruff up. I was so terribly proud of her as she sailed around the ring and in answer to my own question. "YES!!!! I was having fun!!!!" And yes.....it did mean more to me because I was on the other end of the lead! Then the judge asked us to move to the head of the line and had the group once again circle the ring.  I don't know how long I held my breath but at least I didn't faint when she pointed at us, looked me right in the eyes and said "THIS is my Best of Breed". I know this was a once in a lifetime experience and I will have to hold onto this feeling but I'm certain that it will be a while before I forget it.

  It was a long long drive home last night. I was exhausted when pulled into the driveway. I didn't even unpack the car. Courtney headed straight for the couch, of course...so I sat there with her for a while, scratching her neck and telling her how proud I was of her. The puppy was ratting around on the floor nagging her chew toy, her fluffy toy, my toes.... whatever she could get her mouth on....:) Then I emailed a few friends and the s-list to tell them the news. I was beat so wandered up the stairs and the girls and I slept soundly (Yes, yes.... I let my big-girl Mariah sleep on the bed too!)