11 years ago - introduced to Pantera

Eleven years ago - after spending 2 1/2 days working with the beginning training of a guide dog (known as 'juneau work') we are introduced to our new guides!

I can remember all the details of September 17, 1997 and the feelings that were there also: excitement, fear, uncertainty, even some denial still - do I really need a guide dog? (had I forgotten the car that had hit me that had really accelerated my desire to get a guide dog or the stop sign that I had WALKED into ... or you get the picture)

I stood waiting at the door of my room in Oregon of Guide Dogs for the Blind for my turn to be introduced to my new guide. We had each been told the breed of our dog and the letter their name started with then we were to wait and be introduced one by one. I would be receiving a yellow lab whose name started with "P". I had NO idea what this experience was going to be like. Up to this point, my experiences with dogs was minimal ... we had gotten our little pug, Missy, a year prior. I was soon introduced to Pantera without her harness and invited to go back to my dorm room to get acquainted with this happy, excited not yet 2 year old yellow lab. I recall wondering how this darling dog was going to help me safely cross the street and so much more. The first walk with her is hard to put into words ... I had not walked that fast for a looong time - if ever. I wanted to keep walking forever ... it felt so good. I was at GDB for four weeks bonding with Pantera and learning to work with her to see if we could be a team. The four weeks at Guide Dogs for the Blind was an amazing experience. It felt soooo long to be away from my family - Natalie had just started 7th grade and I wanted to be there but knew this would help me be a more independent mom, too. I was having such an interesting experience learning to put my trust in Pantera - some challenging days and some really amazing days as we grew as a team. I also developed a love for Portland and its beauty ... even the rainy days created fun memories and helped us appreciate the sunny days! The first guide represents a lot of firsts ... I love you Pantera and the doors that you opened that now Cricket and I breeze through.