A Thank You for Deb

At the trial on Friday I recognized the rally judge as someone who made a special memory for one of my friends. Several years ago my friend Deb and her beautiful but silly Samoyed Cubby were showing in obedience in Wisconsin. Cubby put his head through the ring gate to visit someone during his heeling pattern. Deb was not very happy and a bit embarrased. Later the judge called her into the ring for her ribbon. "But I didn't qualify" exclaimed Deb. "Today, in my ring you did!" said the judge. Deb was thrilled and often talked about how a day can seem to be going so badly and then someone turns it around with a simple kindness. She and Cubby did deserve their ribbon that day and I was happy for her. We often laughed about it together. So yesterday I shared the story with the judge. You see, Deb lost her battle with pancreatic cancer last year so I wanted to tell the judge she gave my friend a special memory and happiness. I wasn't sure the judge would remember, but she said, "Oh that was in Fon du lac." "Yes Fon du lac". We both cried a little and embraced the memory of Deb and her beautiful friend Cubby.