Taking a Second to Talk About Firsts

Last Friday marked two months since Chase and I graduated from Guide Dogs for the Blind.  And we have had a number of firsts in recent weeks.

A couple Saturdays ago, Chase took his first bus ride with me.  That delivered us to another first, his premiere visit to Ace Hardware.  Then, weekend before last, Chase took his first ferry ride.  It carried us from Jack London Square in Oakland to AT&T Park in San Francisco.  There Chase attended his first Giants game.

 

Chase did very well at the game.  He was polite and respectful of the other team's fans.  He ignored my encouragement to go after the foul balls hit near us.  He did not take offense when we talked about getting a couple of dogs for lunch.  But by the seventh inning, he did his own stretch.  He stood and looked at me, as if to say "Is this over yet?"  Thanks to our friends, Will and Gloria Davidson, for being willing to have a guide dog along for the game.  (And to Will for keeping me up to date on the count and the outs, as well as describing the action.)

Not everything is a first (especially the next time you do it.)  Chase attended his third wedding this past weekend.  Our niece, Leni, got married in Chico.  It was, as far as I know, Chase’s first visit to Chico.  It was also, as far as I know, his first night in a hotel room.

As usual, Chase was a great conversation starter at the wedding.  (I don’t mean he started the conversation. He really doesn’t like to talk in front of strangers.  I mean people had questions and comments about him.)   We got a lot of “He’s really handsome,” and “He’s really well-behaved.”

As the daylight grows shorter heading into fall, I’m beginning to use the flashing red LED strips I bought from Guide Dogs.  They make his harness handle light up like the top of a police car.  I have ordered similar arm bands and should be ready when winter comes and I’m following my black dog in my charcoal overcoat.

The rest of our lives is mostly routine.  Up, eat, relieve, BART, work, water, relieve, back to BARt, head home, eat, relieve and go to bed.  Chase also does all of those things.

How Patti Sees It

I asked my wife, Patti, to write a few words about how she views our new addition.  Here's what she wrote:

Craig asked me to write my thoughts about his getting a guide dog.  I agreed because, after all, it was my idea.  Well, almost my idea. 

Three years ago while attending Craig’s 35th Stanford Reunion weekend, I sat next to one of his classmates.  She is an ophthalmologist and noticing how much Craig did not see, she began asking me questions about his journey.  We continued to talk as we walked to the stadium for the football game, Craig being in front of us.  Watching Craig, she asked me if Craig knew how much he did not see.  I told her that he had long accommodated his lack of vision and that I did not think he realized just how little he actually saw.  Then she asked me the question that led to Craig’s guide dog adventure, why doesn’t Craig have a guide dog?  I couldn’t give her a reason, except to say that he doesn’t think he needs one.  I told her that I worried every day when he leaves the house for his trip to KTVU in Oakland.  The return trip in winter, in particular, was worrisome because he walks a good distance to BART along a busy street where at one point there is a freeway off ramp. 

Craig was nervous the Sunday afternoon I dropped him at Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael.   I think he was fearful that he was not blind enough to deserve a guide, that somehow, he would be discovered as a fraud.  After living with his lack of vision for  more than 30 years, I knew, without a doubt, he needed this dog and I needed it too! 

We are now almost 2 months into having Chase as part of our family.  Craig has managed to add the needs of caring for his guide dog into his routine.  It took some work on his part to fold the chores of daily grooming, relieving, and feeding his black Lab into his getting ready for the day, but Craig’s methodical approach to life worked to his benefit for this adjustment.  He even accommodated my complaints about the shedding of dog hair, buying a grooming tool to help minimize my work.  After all, after having a yellow lab and shepherd mix for a dozen plus years, I chose a no shed poodle when I wanted another dog added to our household four years ago.  I was wearing black for the first time in years and liking it!

Chase is a gorgeous animal.  Square head, deep brown eyes, and the floppy lab lips which allow slobber to lovingly drip down your pant leg when he plops his head affectionately into your lap.  He is smart, mellow, and not dominant.  I had a dominant dog once, and it caused a lot of problems.  Cody, my standard poodle, is not dominant and I wanted him to be able to enjoy having another dog join our household.  Chase fits the bill and they play well together.  In fact, Cody who weighs 30 pounds less actually can intimidate Chase when in full play.

Chase, the guide dog, gives me peace of mind.  I can send Craig off to his day and know that he has someone watching out for him.  Chase is big and can look intimidating. I like that someone would think twice about approaching Craig on the street.  “Does your doggie bite?” should be the first thought to pass someone’s mind before approaching Craig.  That is just fine with me.  Oakland is one of the most violent cities in California and why not have a guide dog that intimidates?

The downside of having a guide dog is when Craig and I walk, I have to be behind them a few paces.  Not exactly the most intimate way to take a stroll, and don’t I like walking behind my fella like a subservient wife!  However, the upside is that I do not have to be responsible to lead Craig through crowds, which I find truly exhausting.  I look forward to our first traveling experience through airports, crowded streets, and sightseeing with Chase doing all the guiding.

So those are my thoughts at this point in our journey with a guide dog.  I appreciate the work Craig has to do in order to decrease my worry.  I hope Craig is able feel  that a guide dog is worth all of that work.