Respect - a photo on Flickriver

Respect

            While having coffee and reviewing photos this morning, I sit trying to decide if I want any of my remaining photos posted/seen, and if there was a story to told. This one, this memory brought a smile to my still half-asleep face, so I thought why not!

I think of the four of us who visited Ireland together this past October, I was the least excited to go and see a sheep dog demonstration. I have known for many years that they were used, and was happy with that little bit of knowledge. Throughout my 62 years of this earthly test, I have been exposed to working dogs of all kinds. From the training of companion dogs in Branchville Prison (as a visitor/mentor) to police and cadaver dogs with my previous employer within our local school system. My time in the US Navy provided me with consistent interactions with drug dogs while one port visit in particular in the early 1980’s, Israel x 2, introduced me to bomb dogs.  Now sadly common in most every airport. 

While passing through the Caherconnell area, we decided to take in the Caherconnell Working Dog demonstrations…a highly recommended experience! We watched in amazement as the shepherd explained how each of his four dogs responded to commands by different pitches and rhythms from what looked to be a pretty simplistic whistle. The whistle is used to control the dogs’ movements and reactions from great distances. The relationship between the shepherd/master and the four dogs truly amazed. 

Looking back, I’m so blessed to be made to do things that I don’t want to do. Please forgive this tangent…I guess I’m in a sharing mood! Many years ago, my bride purchased tickets to a magic show…a guy named David Copperfield…I refused to go. The day before I seriously asked myself “what would be the least painful bone for me to break” …anything to get out of it! Needless to say, she won, but I went kicking and screaming. In his opening act, maybe two and a half minutes in, I was sitting on the front of my seat in a realm of childlike amazement. 

Please know that I am not saying the two shows were on an equal plain, as the magic show was much better. The inclusion of the magic show imbedded in a story about sheep dogs, in my small mind, is added as an example of my being wrong. Wrong about wanting to be exposed a new skill set, and then walking away with the utmost respect for it.  In this case, a shepherd and a magician.

This shot was taken on 26 October, 2022.

Side note: How we screwed over David Copperfield!
After the David Copperfield’s show we were able to do a short meet and greet with him. As we stood in line watching all the fans shake his hand with appreciation, I looked into my brides’ eyes…she was so excited to meet him that words came out of my mouth that I never thought I would say…nor will ever say again. I whispered in her ear “you should ask him if you can give him a kiss!” I wasn’t speaking to my wife, the mother of our children; I was speaking to a 12-year-old little girl meeting her David Cassady like crush. When our turn arrived, Joann nervously extended her hand for the shake, he reciprocated. Around mid-shake she finally said quietly “can I give you a kiss?”  He was very gracious, smiled and said certainly. To be honest…it was at this point that I started to regret my suggestion! She gave him a small, kissing your granny style peck on the cheek. I had no desire to kiss him, so I just shook his hand, and shared that I didn’t want to come but truly enjoyed his show. 

What we didn’t see coming was that Joann had raised the bar for all the other women behind us as for the next several at least, a handshake was no longer  good enough as they all asked for a kiss!

It’s a toss-up…either I am very secure in my manhood, or a fool!

Taken on: February 3, 2023

Tags:

Sheep

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Caherconnell

Ireland

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