There are those people in life that come in and make a forever imprint. I am so thankful for those precious souls! I remember when I started training Gracie….”Crazy Gracie!” I had a HUGE fear of getting in the dog ring with her for obedience trials. I said I would NEVER be able to do that. No way! But there was a dear soul named Larry Simpson (dog trainer extraordinaire) who thought otherwise. He challenged me at every level and never stopped encouraging me. Ever. Some of the things he taught me have stayed with me forever and have come back to help me in training Mabel Joy.
I remember one day I went to him completely discouraged because of loose leash walking with Gracie. It was not happening. She would forge ahead, and I was completely discouraged. I remember Larry looking at me saying “Lisa, you know that tennis court you have in the park next to your back yard? Use it! Go there everyday and walk those lines with Gracie, over and over and over. Work with her there and let all those distractions help her!” That same day I took off for that tennis court and I worked and worked and worked. I could walk that court blindfolded!
15 titles later Miss Gracie Anne, and Larry, helped me overcome one of my greatest fears. I made to the obedience ring, and I didn’t die. Oh, Gracie embarrassed me quite a few times, but I didn’t die, not even when we were disqualified for her goosing a judge and deciding she’d run out of the ring, do the zoomies, and grab treats off one of the tables. Go big or go home right?
Today as I walked that tennis court over and over with Mabel Joy, I could hear Larry cheering me on from heaven…..with all those tips, “don’t pull her Lisa!” “get her attention!” “don’t let that leash get too tight Lisa!” “It’s too tight Lisa!”
I know he would have loved Mabel, and I know he would not let her get away with anything. I am thankful I had him in my life for the season that I did. I really miss him. He helped me overcome some great obstacles, helped me train Gracie and Mavis, and he still has a part with Mabel, a heavenly part. It is all coming back to me in such a precious way.
The longer I live the more precious those friendships get. You know….those authentic, real deal, genuine treasures? The friendships that stand the test of time and life! I love the quote “Some people come into your life as lessons, and some as blessings.” Thankful for the lessons I have learned, and treasure those blessings who have walked with me and I am a better person because of their friendship.
Larry was a blessing. He made a forever imprint in my life and even how I view my dogs. I am thankful for that. I even named that tennis court, “The Larry Court.” Mabel loves that court, so do I.