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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A Blast From The Past

We were tagged in the photo challenge that's been going around on several blogs.  I think that we did this last year sometime, but I'm not certain, so I figured we'd go for it again.  We're also tying it in with the challenge thrown out by The Thundering Herd that asked us to talk about a dog that has been very special in our lives who is no longer with us and tell a story about him or her.  The photo tag challenge asks that you post the tenth picture in the first photo folder that you have.

This picture is of Treat.  She was our first greyhound and our first dog after we got married.  The first three years of our married life, we lived in an apartment and weren't allowed to have dogs.  It was the first time either of us had ever been without a dog.  We got our house the very end of October and by the end of December, Treat had moved in to become the Queen of the Castle.  In the photo above, we were getting ready to go to Dewey Beach, Delaware in October of 2007 for Greyhounds Reach the Beach.  For nongreyhound people, I will explain that this is a huge event where thousands of greyhounds and their people get together for the weekend.  It involves seminars, shopping, walks on the beach, ice cream socials, community outreach, and lots of socializing.  Treat always loved to travel.  Heck, you can see that she had her own luggage, and everything inside that bag was hers.  The girl had lots of accessories, and even a lot of internet fans. 

As soon as we'd start packing, she was there supervising everything we did.  I'm surprised she didn't sleep in the suitcase.   Most of the drive to Delaware involved her with her nose pressed to the window or sticking out the window.  When we crossed the state line, I swear she could smell the ocean in the air.  She was the only one of our greyhounds who liked the water, but every year she and I would take long runs down the beach with a longe line and she loved running through the waves.  People would usually stop and watch us, because most greyhounds are made of sugar and will melt when they come in contact with water.  Treat was made of special sugar, apparently, and she could not resist the water.  In October, the air was often warm, but the water was cold.  It didn't matter.  We were getting in and that was that.  She'd run through the waves, then attack and bite them.  Sometimes she'd dig in the water until it looked like a fountain had erupted around her.  Often, I was surprised that she had the energy to walk back to the rental house.  I usually ended up with horrible shin splints, but I had a very happy dog, at least until we'd get back to the rental house and hose the sand off her.  Why the ocean was wonderful but the hose water was offensive I'll truly never completely understand.  It must have had some kind of reaction with the special sugar she was spun from.

Treat was the perfect first greyhound; she truly made me fall in love with greyhounds and I'll always have at least one by my side.  Traveling with her was always a wonderful adventure.  I could tell a thousand stories about her, but that would take too long.  I'll just say that if there hadn't been Treat, there wouldn't be the wonderful hounds that we currently share our lives with.

We're supposed to tag five people to play photo tag.  If you've already been tagged, we apologize, and please, don't feel obligated to play if you don't want to.

1.  Thoughts From A Yodeling Goatherder
2.  My Great Dane Is In Love With Me
3.  Two Greyhound Town
4.  Who's Driving?
5. We Three Doxies

Blueberry Types for the Blog

22 comments:

  1. WOW!

    She looks like my neighbour Chloe!

    Chloe lives with the nice lady that takes such good khare of Butterskhotch and BroFur!

    Thanks fur sharing these memories!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  2. What a sweet photo of her walking in the surf. You learn something new every day. I'll know to head to Dewey Beach if I'm ever in Delaware in October.

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  3. She was a lady through and through.

    Thanks for the tag gal!

    Oh, love the new look of your blog!

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  4. What a treat to hear about TREAT! Lovely story! I was under the misguided impression that greyhounds don't like water!
    Lotsalicks and lotsaluv
    MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

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  5. A beautiful memory - actually lots of them. So glad you shared them. Where did you get your first greyhound?

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  6. Thanks for sharing Treat's story with us!!

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  7. Our first, second and last greyhounds (so far) all came from Quad Cities Greyhound Adoption in Maysville, Iowa. They are a wonderful group!

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  8. She is gorgeous - it is obvious that she meant a lot to you. I love the fact that she loved to travel! She seems to have enjoyed life to the fullest.

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  9. Thank you for sharing such nice memories about Miss Treat. She was obviously luved a whole, whole lot! And I especially like that she had stripey furs kinda like me!

    Wiggles & Wags,
    Mayzie

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  10. What a wonderful story about Treat! Thank you for sharing it!

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  11. Treat sure was a sweet gal! She was a jetsetter, huh?! My kind of girl, always up for an adventure!

    Wags and Woofs,
    Mack and Mia

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  12. http://driventolove.blogspot.com/2010/03/photo-challenge.html

    Thank you for thinking of us, Mrs. Taleteller. :) And thank you for sharing Treat with us. My Drive was and is the perfect "first" as well. (Our second one should have cured us, though. ;D)

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  13. You so sweet to tag us and we love your story aboutTreat. Don't you just loooove the feel of rescuing? Yea, until you really find out who rescued who.
    Hmmmm, I thinks mum will have to do this tag post seeing as how I don't follow rules too well.
    Ummm, what is the IM on your blog...do tell us.
    Puddles

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  14. We love to hear about Treat - such a sweet girl.
    love
    Martha & Bailey xxxx

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  15. Great memories!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  16. Can't get enough Treat stories. That's why I love this game. You never know what the blast will do to you. You are funny. Good thing you got a chance to move in the house before getting Treat.
    Twinkie

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  17. What a sweet story! thanks for sharing. :p

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  18. thanks for sharing this furry special "TREAT" wiff ush .

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  19. A great story -- reminds me of us, and Tucker, and vizslas. Although we're considering a greyhound at some point when we need to replace a pack member, after reading about your guys and about Debbie. :-)

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  20. what a super nice story. miss treat was a very special lady! :)
    *woof*
    the booker man

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  21. It's amazing how the first one affects us, no? I'm a happy convert. :)

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  22. Sure, I throw out a challenge and then disappear into work all week. So rude! Loved the story. Thanks so much for sharing.

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