The Rest of the Story

 

A week ago, my friend Robyn flagged me down a couple of shopping carts away in the baking aisle at Yoke's. 

Maneuvering her way through the carts, she wasted no time telling me what was on her mind. 

"I want to train your dog," she said, adding that she'd like to take Bridie to some field trials. 

Robyn, who sold us our first Border Collie, had met Bridie earlier this year and expressed the same desire.  

I told her then that Bill and I would bring Bridie to her farm and see how she got along with sheep. 

Well, life got in the way over the summer. Plus, I didn't know for sure if Robyn was really that serious. 

Last week I learned that she was, indeed, very serious, so we planned a visit to her place over the weekend. 

Saturday did not work out because it rained all day. 

With much improved weather on Sunday, we loaded up the dogs and drove about 20 miles to her farm where Robyn had rigged up a makeshift pen where three sheep stood huddled in the corner, waiting for whatever would come next. 

In earlier blog post this week, I described what happened later---from timid Bridie wanting her parents to Bridie's Border Collie instincts suddenly kicking in to Robyn suddenly landing on the ground after the trio of sheep had passed by. 

Robyn is one tough cookie who wasn't going to let a little leg problem get in the way of what she has on her agenda for Bridie. 

At first, Bill and I figured we'd be packing up Bridie and leaving so Robyn could tend to the leg injury that was bad enough that she could not put weight on the leg. 

Robyn, though, was on a mission.  

After her hubby brought her a chair, she asked him to take the baton/leash and work with Bridie in a couple of segments, lasting about 45 minutes.

Then, and only then, was Robyn satisfied that our dog had gotten "turned on" to herding sheep. 

We said our good byes as she and Bob went from the pen to her house in the car and then Bill and I drove home. 

The next morning I called to see how Robyn was doing.  She told me that she had gone to the ER at 2 a.m. when she just couldn't get comfortable with that leg. 

Turns out she had broken bones from being hit by one of the sheep. At the time, she was waiting to hear from the orthopedic specialist. 

The next day I called and the story became more interesting.  She had been referred to another orthopedic specialist and was scheduled to have her whole knee replaced yesterday. 

 Feeling so badly that this all happened because our dog was involved, Bill and I decided that Robyn needed a smaller Border Collie to help her make it through her therapy. 

We had a stuffed Collie which we had brought home from Ireland a couple of years ago. 

When I went to the hospital to see Robyn yesterday, her twin sister Debbie was there.  Ironically, she pulled out a stuffed sheep from a bag for Robyn.

She also showed me Robyn's "baaaa" pajamas, which she brought to the hospital for her overnight stay.

Robyn told me during our visit that a lamb had been born the night before out in their barn and that Bob had brought the baby into the house so Robyn could cuddle and kiss it.  

Robyn may be off her beloved farm temporarily, but she has her dog and a sheep. 

I've never seen someone so resilient and so upbeat, considering what happened her during that split second on Sunday. 

So, as the rest of the story goes, it may be a while longer before Robyn trains Bridie, but we do know that she has already "turned that dog on" to sheep.

And so, that's the rest of the story, at least for now.  

Heal well, Robyn.  

  

After visiting Robyn, I spent some time in the healing garden next to the hospital. 

We are experiencing the last vestiges of summer and fall, so though there was lots of death to be seen among the plants and shrubs, the place is still beautiful and soothing to the soul. 

Visitors can view tributes to people who originally had the vision for such a place or to those honored by family members, friends or community.  

Add to that various carpets of fallen leaves and those "last blossoms standing," refusing to give up their beauty just yet. 

The garden always a nice place for reflection and for enjoying a sense of peace. 

Thank you, Mary Ann and your volunteers for providing this place for all to enjoy. 

Happy Friday. 

Another beautiful November day awaits.