We're a graduated team!

9:47 Pm

As I write this segment, I'm in much the same position I was in when I wrote my last one--cross-legged on the bed, Arden's warm back pressed against my left leg as he sleeps next to me. And I couldn't be a happier person in the world.

Shortly after I wrote that last segment, I got dressed and headed off for lunch. We were served grill-cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and powdered cookies for dessert. Someone must have really had a sense of humour, because serving a bunch of dressed up people soup and powdered doughnuts is just asking for disaster! We somehow managed not to make a royal mess of ourselves though, and were soon off.

As we rode to GDB's main campus, I realized that this would be our last trip in the van together. It was really bittersweet, because despite how much I'm looking forward to going home, I'm really going to miss my classmates and the trainers. It was such an unlikely group of people to get so close to one another--we were a class who ranged in age from 26 to 70, and came from so many different walks of life. and there was just so much mutual support, so much understanding, and tons upon tons of inappropriate conversations that had  us in stitches night after night.

When we got to campus, we all went into the big board room to await the arrival of the raisers. We were told to take off the dogs' harnesses, since there was nothing at all "professional" about the upcoming reunion, and there was going to be no attempt to reign in any of the dog's exuberance upon seeing its raiser. The puppy raisers came in one group at a time, so as not to simultaneously rush the board room and generate complete and utter mayhem. After the first few groups came in, I just sat there and listened. I could hear excited dogs jumping and dancing about, and snippets of conversation about so-and-so as a puppy. Where's Arden's family? I thought. Just then, the class supervisor came up to me and said they'd be in shortly. My heart raced; it was like dog day all over again, only this time I was meeting his raisers! Would they like me? Would he remember them? I barely had time to indulge all my fears before Arden's leash was nearly dragged right out of my hand. all four paws were off the floor and right on top of her, and my heart soared. I was so glad that he was so excited, and so happy to meet her at last! She and I had been exchanging e-mails for some time now, and so it was great to finally meet in person! she was every bit as fantastic as I'd imagined she would be and then some--I can definitely see why Arden is such an incredible dog. The minutes flew by as we just sat together and bragged about Arden, which was not hard to do at all. He was still going nuts the whole time, and sort of bounced back and forth between she and I, probably thinking "this is perfect! everyone I love is here! Let the party begin!". It must have been so amazing to be Arden today, now that I think of it. After chatting for a while, we were whisked away to take photos. There was one taken of just Arden and I, and one with the puppy raiser as well. Almost as soon as that was done, it was time to go and actually graduate. I left Arden with her, all harnessed up and professional. My classmates and I made our way across the parking lot to a grassy area outside the admin building where the graduation was to take place. and just like that, it began. They didn't show the "soulmates" video, which I thought they showed at most graduations--it's ok though, as things moved along pretty quickly. My primary instructor was the one doing the presenting, so she introduced all of us, and we all hooted and hollered and generally caused a ruckus because we were all so happy. Oh, just typing out all of this is making me feel sad again, guys. I got so attached to all the people I was with these past three weeks, you know? Heck, I even feel attached to those of you who are reading this, and I'm going to miss updating everyone! ok, sorry about that sidetrack...moving on!

When it was my turn to speak, I included a short speech I'd written up for Arden's puppy raiser. I made sure to mention that it went out to all the puppy raisers out there, and I'll be posting that immediately after I post this. I would post it now, but it'll just make the entry too big.

Once graduation was over, there was a lot of milling and mingling about. Several people approached us to congratulate us, and I actually got to meet a bunch of other puppy raisers, as well as some people on the GDB lounge mailing list! To everyone I met, thank you so, so much for coming out to support Arden and me! It means so much to me that you came out and shared the celebration with us, especially because my own family and loved ones could not come (they're just busy building igloos in Canada).

After we were done schmoozing, Arden's raisers and I headed back to the Inn, where Arden and Bobbie (his raiser's current dog) romped and played in my room. If we didn't intervene to stop them, they'd probably still be playing right now! I also took the opportunity to feed Arden, and then we were off to dinner. One of my classmates and her dog joined us, and we all headed to The Cheesecake Factory, which is among my favourite restaurants in the states. we actually don't have one in Canada, so I try and take advantage of it whenever I'm in the states. The conversation over dinner was wonderful, and the food (as I suspected) did not disappoint at all. For the record, I had their red velvet cheesecake, which has you believing you're headed straight for hell, it's just that sinfully good. And can I say how much more in love I fell with Arden's raisers? we're absolutely going to stay in touch, and I'm so lucky to have expanded my network of loved ones all the way to Bakersfield, California!

And now I'm exhausted, and still have a bit of packing left to do. After we said goodbye to Arden's raisers, he and I just lay in my bed together, and I thought of all the funny things that happened to Arden and I in class, or funny things his raiser told me about him, and I held him, and laughed and laughed and laughed. It was actually kind of ridiculous. He just snuggled closer, thumped his head down on the pillow next to me, and sighed that sigh that so perfectly says, without any words at all, "Oh, this is perfect, isn't it?"

Yes Arden, it is. I love you.

And just because I'm having a hard time letting go of this blog, I'm going to probably post another entry tomorrow--we have a very long day ahead of us. We leave GDB at 4:00 in the morning, and I have my first flight at 7:00, land in Vancouver at 9:00, leave Vancouver at 11:00, and arrive in Toronto at 6:30 eastern. So it'll be a very long day indeed. See you back in Canada, everyone!