Hey Daroma! (Hey, Southward)

When I saw Bracha putting several little bags of dog food and two brand new bones and two treats that they gave us at the pet store into a suitcase, I knew something big was up. Yep, we are going to Eilat for four days! And Petel and I get to be in a room together! ANd on the way back we get to go on a plane! I'm so excited I can hardly sit down. I think it will be lots of fun, and Bracha has promised me that being on a plane will be just like riding on a train or bus.
We have lots to do before we leave. First of all, the hair on my paws needs to be trimmed. It is so long that it is liable to get caught in escalators or cracks, so we need to go out into the orchard and lay down and have a good grooming session. ANd then we will be all set!

Keeping up Our Old Agreement

Ever since the last time I got ill and had a sees your last Friday Bracha has been very watchful of me and reassuring. We still do everything together as we always do, and yesterday I worked beautifully – taking Bracha all over Tel Aviv and right to the bus that takes us to Rotem's school.

But on the way Bracha took me on the bus to a place where we had never been before. As soon as Bracha told me to turn right and go into the entrance to a building with a pretty little garden in front and a sign that had the names of several doctors on it, I knew right away that this was undoubtedly a veterinary clinic. Don't ask how I knew. I just knew. I did my best to plant all four feet on the sidewalk just like I do in front of Avi's clinic in Nahariya, but Bracha told me we had to go in and said there was no choice. When we got inside everyone was very good to me and admired me a lot. But I did have to have a needle poked in me and the doctor took some of my blood out. I was scared, but Bracha held me and reassured me, and then gave me a treat. The rest didn't hurt. The nice vet looked in my ears, felt me all over, and turned off the lights and shone a little flashlight in my eyes. Then she took me into the next room and weighed me. And then she and Bracha sat down to talk. Bracha reassured me afterwards and told me that there is a kind of medicine that will help me and keep me from having any more sees yours. I really don't like them. They make me feel funny beforehand and afterwards I'm very confused. So we have to wait and see what happens. I know that Bracha still loves me and will take care of me. She might even love me more now that she knows that I might have to take medicine, and if I do she promised she'd give it to me every day. That way we can keep up our agreement – I take care of Bracha and she takes care of me! And best of all – when we got back from Tel Aviv I was covered in yucky black soot from the sidewalks and I really needed a bath. So off to the river we went! And it's running with lots of water now! Just the way I like it!

Is that me under the table?

I never had such a week. Evening after evening Bracha would take me out and all I ended up doing was sitting under the table. There were a lot of people around. There was a lot of excitement, kissing and hugging and shouting and laughing and I admit I did get petted and admired a lot. but mostly I ended up under the table and not being allowed to have food. Finally on Friday I lost it. There were two cakes on the table, and let's just say that when I got through there were one and two thirds cakes on the table. By that time Bracha had understood that I was having a rough time. All that partying and none for me. It was the kibbutz reunion and I was new to everyone. But Bracha didn't get too angry at me. That was because she was concerned because I had, or I think I had, another sees your. So that makes two.
So I have epilepsy. Bracha and I discussed it and she reassured me that I was still her dog and that she would make sure we will work together like always. I know she'll help me. I felt so confused and unhappy afterwards. So we will talk with a special vet who knows about these things. He'll know what to do.

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.