*GDG* I am bummed - but it's not so bad *GDG*
I have backed way off on posting as much of my own personal retriever situations as I used to. I have a couple key reasons for doing that. I won't detail them.
I have felt badly at times for backing off on that as part of what I felt kept me true to RTF, and true to the resource is being fairly open about who I am and what's going on in my own part of the retriever world.
I will share with you all that today I am officially bummed out! An RTF buddy has referred me to a Stuttgart, AR area hunting lodge for a personal and business hunting outing. For me, part of the fun would be taking my now 6 year old black lab "Bus".
As I was packing up for a Sunday prep, so that I can get on the road early tomorrow to pick a friend up in Memphis on Monday, I realized that my Bus was keeping an eye closed and blinking - a LOT. He had similar symptoms at the beginning of our local duck season in the opposite eye. At that time, the cool orange dye that turns green when it hits a dog's eye proved a scratched cornea.
We got that all healed up but again, today the opposite eye looked strangely similar. I chose to go ahead and call a local vet who offers Sunday on call service. Sure enough, the OTHER eye has a scratched cornea. Vet's advice: No entry of water for 7 days minimum - checkup and re-dye of the eye require first. (no duck hunting)
Since Bus only came equipped with 2 of these things they call "eyes", I will heed the good Doctor's suggestion.
Good news: I have a GMC 1/2 ton pickup that's the cleanest it's been in 2 years (got it all cleaned up prior to the news so I can pick up my buddy in Memphis). Now I get to leave that gas guzzler home and take a much more fuel efficient vehicle down. OK - it is really not good news at all. I'm just trying to make myself feel better.
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I just got off the phone a bit ago with my friend Dr. Jim Smith who incurred a true tragedy with a home fire that many of you read about. Jim lost his dogs in that fire. It was a true and terrible tragedy. I have tried to leverage my own personal relationships with some folks to try and help Jim connect with some All Age contender type litters.
My heart aches for Jim and his family. The biggest benefit in this whole thing is that it was "just" the dogs and not his kids or his wife.
I hope that we see Dr. Jim Smith on the retriever trail with a smile on his face, a healthy and happy family, and some young dogs that are wagging and smacking the marks and blinds....
Enjoy all. No matter how tough it feels, perspective helps reveal that it really isn't probably all that bad.
To Dr. Jim Smith. I'm so sorry. I am very confident that in the future you will be back at the line with some dogs that make folks nervous at the Opens and the Ams.
Chris
