Running Smoothly

I guess I haven't written for a while because things are just going along smoothly. It made Bracha and me both giggle (if I could giggle) when a woman on the bus cornered next to the door when we were about to get off backed as far as she could next to the wall and asked, "She doesn't do anything, does she?" Bracha just smiled and said, "If you mean is she aggressive, than no, she won't do anything bad, but actually, she does quite a bit."
And I did do quite a bit. It's now getting dark early, so we were both feeling a bit apprehensive when we got off the bus at the stock exchange at night to get into the train station. Bracha asked the driver where to get off and off we went. I went right to the crosswalk, across the other road where cars come zipping out of the parking lot, and turned smack into the right place and headed for the train. ANd before we knew it the long sleeve with the lights inside was right in front of us. Bracha stopped me at the entrance and gave me a thorough praising and petting. "Good girl, Suki!" So that's it. That route is under control now. But we also went to some new places where we had not been before. One was to the building near the train station where BRacha had to sit at a meeting and I lay quietly and slept for two hours while the meeting went on. It was a place I had never been before and my claws made a nice clicking noise on the wooden floors when I walked around there. But really, why does the woman on the bus HAVE to sit down next to us and tell Bracha all about her Schnauzer???

Best Beach Day Ever!

Yesterday we went to the beach and the sea was different than it had ever been before. There were no waves. The water was smooth and calm and I could swim around and around in circles until I couldn't swim any more. Then I got out and lay quietly on the beach watching Bracha and her friends swim. I know there's a life guard because he called "Suki, Suki!" through his loudspeaker when I arrived, but I still need to watch everyone. The lifeguard really likes me. I don't think I've ever had such a good time at the beach before. Now we have to go as often as we can before the winter begins and it gets too cold.

So I was lovely, fluffy, and white when Yael came to check us for a home visit from Beit Oved. We walked up and down the main street in Nahariya and I poked about a bit, but Bracha got me going quickly. And it wasn't my fault that a man with a little dog let his dog sniff me all over and distracted me from my work. But Yael said I did a good job and I was happy. We even showed her how I fgfind mailboxes and the ATM machine. I know Bracha was proud of me and when Yael said I did my work happily I knew she was right. So that's it until next year. Bracha also told Yael about the sees-your that I had, and Yael said, "If you need to change dogs, you have the right to ask." I sat up straight under the table in alarm. But Bracha said she was not interested in changing me for another dog at all, and that if I ever got sick like that again she would give me medicine and take care of me. And I know she will, too.

Petel and I under the table

As soon as Bracha and I walked into Cafe Greg I ran over to the corner pulling on my harness as hard as I could. There were Liron and Petel, as usual. Hooray! Soon Petel and I got over the romping stage and settled down under the table. But we couldn't help listening to the talk above as we nuzzled each other. Bracha and Liron were talking about going on an airplane together! And making sure there were places reserved in front so there would be room for us! Now, I've never been on a plane before, but Petel has been on one several times already and says it's sort of like being on a bus or train. I don't quite understand what we have to do if Bracha and I are flying in the sky, and I can't remember learning anything about this in my training. Petel says we really don't have to do anything except walk up some steps and then settle down for the ride. Someone else flies the plane. Acd after that I started looking forward to it. I'm always curious about anything new. After all, I'm a very intelligent dog.

And now I have to tell you about the taxi driver who took us to the center yesterday. He was very curious about me and asked some questions. Then he asked Bracha if she worked and she said she did. "Well, you're really quite normal," he said. Bracha told him flatly that besides the fact that she doesn't see well she is just like anyone else. This sounds just like the kind of person who put the sign in the elevator that Bracha showed me on her computer. THe sign said: Attention Blind People! Please ignore the floor announcements in the elevator since they are incorrect. Now how is a blind person supposed to read the sign? And what if a person who does not hear gets in the elevator? How ignorant people can be! Sometimes I think I'm smarter than some people. And why did the woman at the meeting ask what kind of language she should use to write instructions for people who cannot see. Bracha just turned to her and said, "You write instructions just like you write for any other intelligent adult." Sigh..
Next week someone is coming from Beit Oved to see how Bracha and I work together. I promise to do my best.

Aamer's dream come true

About a year and a half ago Bracha and I sat down on the train to Tel Aviv when a young man approached us. He said he had heard Bracha giving me commands and realized that there was a woman with a guide dog. He was curious because he was also blind and was thinking of getting a dog. He was from Peki'in and still lived with his parents, and they did not feel that a dog in the house was a good idea. THey were afraid that a dog would make a mess, shed, and misbehave. He therefore had talked to Beit Oved, but had not gotten a dog, and got around with a cane.

Bracha started trying to encourage him to get a dog. She said he could come to our house and bring his parents, and they could see how clean, well-behaved, and good I was. I could tell he was tempted. After that we heard nothing more from him. But when Bracha heard that a man called Aamer from Peki'in had just gotten a dog, she began to wonder if it was the same Aamer we had met on the train.

Sure enough, today when the phone rang Bracha looked at me and said, "Suki, there's a surprise! Ami is stopping by to visit. And then there was Ami, opening the gate and I was so excited to see him! Bracha told me to sit and it was all I could to to keep my rear end on the ground. Soon we sat down and Ami told Bracha that Aamer was indeed the young man we had met on the train! He has a Labrador retriever, and is now finishing the course! Ami and a new trainer named Natanel are his trainers. Bracha said she'd call him to see how things were going. Good for Aamer for convincing his parents to let him have a dog. And maybe, just maybe, I did a bit of the convincing myself.

"If I tell your dog..."

It's raining! The bad thing about this is that we were supposed to go to the beach, and now we can't. The nice thing about this is that I can sit in the yard and get wet and there is a different smell in the air. It smells like winter. Bracha and I stood outside and watched the rain come down and listened to the thunder, and she assured me that there would still be beach days left, and that soon the ri ver would fill up and I could swim there again.

Thursday we got on a bus to go to the board meeting and then got off that one and got on another. Bracha wasn't too sure where we were, so she asked the driver to tell us where to get off. He politely offered the seat right by the door and I sat down and looked out the window just as I like to do. When we got to the stop he told us that we had to get off here and started to tell Bracha that we had to walk up to the stoplight, cross the street, and turn left. We already know how to do this, but Bracha knew he was just being helpful, and she could tell he was a bit concerned because that corner is very complicated to cross. He looked down at me and asked, "If I tell your dog hwhere to go, will he understand?"

We all make mistakes...

I must admit that I've made a few mistakes lately. And Bracha admits that she made some, too. We discussed it, as usual, with Bracha getting down on the floor and sitting beside me and stroking my fur, and me thumping my tail and putting a large front paw on her arm. That way, we usually come to an understanding.

It all began when we started walking towards the beach. I was excited, as I always am when we reach the end of the main street in Nahariya and I can sense we are getting close to the water. And I guess I wasn't concentrating and Bracha tripped over one of those stupid brick flower beds they have around the trees. She sat down and made me sit, too. I felt awful and started licking her but she'd have none of it. Up we got and she called me on it, made me approach the same place and go around the flower bed and Ithat time gave it a wide berth. I guess I didn't deserve a run on the beach, but I got one anyway.

And when we got into town it was Bracha's turn to make a mistake. She forgot my shoes, and as soon as we got to the stoplight I started dancing around on the corner like I had hot peppers under my paws. Which, for all practical purposes, I did. Bracha apologized and we took a bus instead of walking so that I wouldn't have to walk on the hot pavement. So we both made mistakes that time and will try and do better next time.

When we got to the dentist everyone was glad to see me as usual. I was offered water, petted, and escorted into the doctor's office. But when we started to go into the next room, the technician said she was afraid of me and asked if I could wait outside. The woman asked Bracha if she was angry, and Bracha said she wasn't because she had asked nicely and she understood. Bracha led me behind the reception area, and told me to wait there quietly, which I did. The woman was very apologetic, and said afterwards, "I'll bet she hates me now." Bracha assured her that I don't hate anyone. But I wish she were not afraid of me. It's a shame. I hear that petting animals makes people feel relaxed and happy.

Fun and Politics

Wow! I'm still sleeping off yesterday. We got in the car and suddenly I smelled that we were at the beach! Bracha let me off the leash and I ran and ran and swam and ran again! Afterwards I went to sleep on the grass while Bracha and her friends ate and talked. When we got back Bracha said we were going out and that I would be busy at the demonstration that evening, so I slept some more and my fur dried to its usual curly soft fluffiness that it gets after swimming at the beach. In the evening we started walking down the street in town. There were lots of people and a lot of noise, and the music was very loud, but I was very proud to be the only guide dog there. Bracha said it was important. And there were 450,000 people out walking and demonstrating last night! I wonder...was I the only guide dog?