When my dog’s on a trail I can’t see,
And I call him to sit by my knee,
It never takes long,
His idea is just gone,
And with age it now happens to me!
Steve and his constant companion
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Jan. 28, 2015
NOTE: Steve and Nadja’s Collie enjoys the tall fields behind the Shoemaker home on the Illinois prairie, but his ears are tuned for his tall friend’s invitation. I [Gordon] would include his name, but I’ve forgotten.
We bought our collie puppy from a farm
about two hours drive away. We’d read
a lot about the woman breeder from
the Internet, saw pictures of the stud,
the dam, and former Champions. A pet
was all we wanted, but a pure-bred dog
was beautiful as well. Good temperament
was guaranteed. The pup we chose grew big
and sweet by nine months, but at just a year
was very sick from a genetic flaw.
The vets had salves and drops and pills that wore
us out (and cost as much a month as food.)
The breeder never bred the pair again,
and Blazer has become our greatest friend…
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Feb. 21, 2013
Views from the Edge 