With Gratitude
What is life without gratitude? This page is devoted to just that, expressing gratitude to those who have touched us in some way along this journey. It would be a monumental task to thank everyone at once. Preferable to just making a list of those that I would like to thank, I want to take the time to make a personal note to each of those people. Please check back regularly, for the list is a long one......
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My first thank you is extended to my Mom. The support you have given us means the world to me. Whether it's cheering us on or coming along on a long road trip. There are so many ways that you give us support and I will always hold onto the many great memories. The good times you have shared with us, and even the occasional disappointment, will always be etched in my mind. I love that most of our close dock jumping community calls you "Mom", that's just pretty darn cool. I only can hope that we make you proud every time we step on, and off of, the dock. Thanks for loving us, thanks for supporting us and we love you!
ReplyDeleteAfter some reminiscing tonight and thinking about all of the incredible memories that I have been blessed to have had on the dock, I say thank you to Milt Wilcox. You were one of the first people to show me the ropes. I was just a girl who wanted to jump her dogs and you provided us with opportunities that we would have never had. There was something about Meadow and you saw it early on. You told me I was going to have a big jumping girl and, initially, I dismissed it. It wasn't just her ability to jump though, she just had that drive and personality to excel. I will never forget all of the great events. It was so much more than just competing, it was about having fun too. Dock jumping came into my life at a time when I was ready for a new journey. How could I have anticipated the journey I would have? I've learned so much in the five years of being in this sport. Whenever I felt frustrated you would encourage me, teach me or get up on the dock with Meadow. We went on to jump everywhere we could and to try it all. The 2010 UKC Kalamazoo Event. I'm on the dock with Meadow, Melissa Ness was holding her and amping her up out of her mind. I for once had the perfect throw, Meadow ran hard down the dock and the stars aligned. I knew it was big, I just didn't know how much. You said to me, "Shari, you need to come down her off of the dock and give me a hug." I knew it right then, it was Meadow's biggest jump ever!! I didn't know whether to get her out of the pool or run down to get my score. I heard 25'2" and I thought my heart stopped. It was then that I knew all things were possible! Thank you Milt for the opportunities you gave us and just plain caring about us. We, Meadow, Sage and I, will be forever grateful. I always said that we would keep jumping no matter what those jumps were as long as the girls still had fun on that dock. Five years later, we are still doing what we love. As new dogs come in that are younger and getting huge air, we will always have our memories of the big jumps, the small jumps, the "What the heck just happened?" jump. Every bit of it has and will be part of the journey and an AWESOME one it is!!
ReplyDeleteA story about two girls who would realize that they might be twins, or perhaps, just a story about two competitive girls who would become the best of friends.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to my first event, Meadow and Sage were pretty young. It was an indoor event in the middle of winter. I walked into this event completely unprepared and such a rookie. We had "wranglers" on the dock. They were responsible for making sure people were where they were supposed to be in the line up. Wranglers would also help the dogs get safely out of the water. So here I am, a total newbie, anxiously awaiting my turn to show the crowd that I had no idea what I was doing or if my dogs would even jump. The wrangler calling out the running order had a cast on her arm, apparently a hockey injury, but she looked intimidating nonetheless. Anyone who has seen the episode of Seinfeld with the soup nazi, now picture that scenario on the dock. I was certain that this "dock nazi" was going to yell, "No dock for you!", if I wasn't exactly where I should be, exactly when I was supposed to be. Now, if you ask Anna about her first impression of me, she would tell you that she was thinking, OH MY GOD, this girl has no clue. The "dock nazi" and the "clueless girl" became the best of friends, but not before being each others nemesis on the dock. You see Anna had one of those legend dogs in the sport. Colby has been everywhere and done it all. Colby is now retired, but in 2008 was still holding his own as an aging gentleman when this girl and her young Chessies came onto the scene.
continued in the next post........
That's exactly how I remember Anna when I first met her as well. It was a Wonder Dogs / Splash Dogs event in Shelbyville, KY. Turns out she isn't a dock nazi after all.
DeleteA little history on my friend Anna. There isn't anything I haven't seen her excel at. We are talking about everything from playing hockey at Michigan State, to setting records in Dock Jumping, to getting a perfect score on her Physicians Assistant Boards. Try being an inexperienced competitor still learning the ropes and having to compete against her of all people. I can say all of this because I love my dear friend and will continue to do so until we are both old ladies. She is my person, my person that I trust with my life and to take care of my girls if anything ever happened to me. But I have to say folks, she intimated me. Yet I found myself looking up to her. We had begun to hang out and become friends, even outside of the competitive world. We have the same sense of humor and I don't think anyone could follow one of our conversations except us. We just get each other. Isn't it great in life when we find those souls who just get us? We were at an event called Quake on the Lake and I think that's where the turning point came. I know it had to be hard to watch Meadow come along and give Colby some competition. Colby had done a great job of ruling the dock and at that time, no one could touch him in Vertical. We were the new kids and had to earn our respect, but we always gave it as well. I was well aware of Colby and Anna's achievements. How could I not respect what they had accomplished? I think that event was the first time Meadow took first in Vertical and Colby second. I felt so happy for Meadow, but also had this pit in my stomach. That victory was bittersweet. I hugged my friend and then she said the nicest thing to me. Anna said, "I'd rather get beat by you than anyone else.". The tide had shifted. I have learned so much from Anna about dock jumping and how to be a competitor. Anna, if you read this, I don't know that you will ever realize how you have influenced and inspired us. You have not only taught me about competing and form, but also about supplements and training. Who else would watch the live feed from Super Retriever Series and text the announcer to give me a message while I'm on the dock about what I'm doing wrong on the dock and how to fix it. That will always bring a smile to my face. I am so blessed to have you, Anna, as my friend. I only hope that I can be as good of a friend to you as you have always been to me. You have the biggest heart and as a result those two rescued furry kids, Colby and Brie Cheese, have the life that all dogs dream of. I'm so excited to have you back on the dock again. You were destined to end up with Little Morgan's grandson. Only you could manage to have Forest flying high and doing the chase at 7 months old. Another generation begins, "Oh, the places you'll go!" From the many tools that have become hostage to the bottom of my pond while you helped me set measurement banners for my events (it was nice of the guys to just stand and watch from the dock, haha), to pranking Melissa with the Talking Tom and laughing until our cheeks hurt, to chocolate martini and WII night, YOU my friend are the exact stuff that friends are made of!!
ReplyDeleteOne of the first people I met in Ultimate Air Dogs was Matt. I couldn't figure out something as simple as creating an Avatar. Matt came to my rescue and eventually became my friend. He was an Indiana boy so we had that in common. Indiana University is my alma mater so whenever I needed to some IU gear to display in my little plot of dock jumping space at events, Matt managed to hook a girl up. I have been blessed with friends who have lended unconditional curly girl support. What a team of lucky girls we are. When I came face to face with Matt for the first time it was at an event called Mutt Strut back in 2007. My first thought was, "Wow, he's quiet!". Well, he kind of is, but I'm pretty talkative and found that once you get to know him he's not "as" quiet. Events were quiet different back then and there were a group of us that became like family. Those were great memories and there are many! That same summer we were in Traverse City at Cherry Fest. All of the competitors had their ez-ups and tents in one area. I had a screened in tent that the roof was caving in on from the heavy down pour of rain. Matt and I were huddled in a corner with our four dogs. I could go on and on with memories etched in my mind of the events passed. Matt, when you read this, know that you will always be with me and the curly girls my friend. Friendship knows no distance and you have always been a true friend. You have encouraged, cheered and defended us. How does one ever adequately thank a friend? I am so grateful for you Matt.
ReplyDeleteIf I have two twins in this world, one is Anna and the other is Alisa. Alisa and I met my first year of dock jumping and became fast friends. We don't see each other often, but we have one of those friendships that withstands distance and periods of silence. She has always been there if I really needed her. I loved Alisa right from the beginning. We could share a veggie burger and fight an army at the same time. Our shared deep love and connections with our dogs and our spirited natures resonated. Our first face to face meeting, after many exchanges on the UAD message board, was in Traverse City at the Cherryfest Event. I had just arrived into town and someone backed into my new vehicle, then I got in the middle of a disagreement between two dogs and had a puncture in my hand. I was more than a little bummed. Alisa doctored me up and then her husband went to buy me chocolate. Who could ask for a better friend than that to soothe your soul? I cheered from afar as she took her furry kids to Purina IDC Regionals and graced the podium. YAY ALISA AND COLBY!! I trust her so much that I was willing to let her stitch my lip at an event if needed before I'd go to an Urgent Care. This happened at a Purina Qualifier in Chantilly, VA. I was talking to my girl Meadow. As I went down she came up and we smacked so hard that it split my lip open. I thought I'd need stitches so over to Dr. Alisa I went. She iced it and every time I laughed I started bleeding again. I look up to Alisa and I'm blessed to have her as a friend. She is an excellent veterinarian, she lives her life with passion and sheer determination and drive. Underneath her feisty spirit is a soft, kind heart. Thank you Chica for all of the times you have been there for me. You are my twin and I love you dear friend. I am blessed with you in my life because of this great sport that we share a passion for, as well as the many other things we have in common. xoxo
ReplyDeleteAlisa is the best!!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, Matt! You pretty much rock too ;-)
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