Keymaster’s Web Log

It’s finally beginning to sink in, Envy is a champion today. Wow.

This is an emotional day for me for so many reasons. First, a dog I love was honored with an American Kennel Club championship today. I love Envy. She is an amazing dog. So often it seems, the dog is forgotten in all this show business. The handlers hug each other on TV. What about the dog? It makes me mad. It’s their honor, not ours.

Envy is the granddaughter of Zool. So deserving of the title, she never became an AKC champion, an honor taken from her by fate.

Envy is the daughter of Schnitz. Schnitz never became a champion. Schnitz was a ground breaking dog. Now, he is the producer of two natural ear champions, Envy and her brother Otto.

Tonight as Envy makes her way back home to Seattle from Missoula, Montana

I think of Zool and Schnitz and I miss them, as I miss her. What ties these animals together, aside from my obvious and embarrassing love for them, is the loving, gentle spirit they all share.

Grandmother-son-granddaughter: all have such a grace and quietness, mingled with effortless inner beauty that simply shines out of them. They have a presence, such a beautiful presence. So difficult to put into words, I can only say as a means of explaining, when one of them leaves, it is as if the whole world is diminished by their loss.

And knowing this, every day with Envy is a blessing. I so enjoy her and eagerly await her return to make my world so much brighter. To urge me on with her own selflessness and inner strength.

Joy.