Last month, Atlanta went all-out for the 77th Annual Dogwood Festival, in Piedmont Park, Midtown. Art, music, and various forms of entertainment abounded in this beautiful green space among the skyscrapers in the near distance.
Sidebar: I am a total country girl at heart, but once in a while, I do appreciate the cultural advantages of living in the self-proclaimed New York City of the South. And if I don’t get to live in the country right now, I think Atlanta is a pretty cool (and downright miserably hot, sometimes) place to live.
It was a perfect spring day with bright blue sky and mild temperatures. Team LOL went armed for the day, slathered in sunscreen, hats in place, ready to fill our CF cards with all sorts of images.
People are usually our favorite “targets” but this day provided much more fun subjects–DISC DOGS! We are both dog lovers, so we were ready to be entertained, but we were also amazed. There were serious competitors vying for the title of Champion of the 22nd Annual Disc Dogs Southern Nationals…
…and then there were the dogs and owners who were there just for the sport of seeing how many discs their dogs could catch in the allotted time.
These dogs – every one of them – were amazing. What struck us most about them was their loyalty, ability to focus, and how anxious they were to please. They seemed to thrive on making their owners happy, chasing disc after disc, and leaping into their owners’ arms.
The announcer made it known that many of these dogs were rescues, and many of them were stereotyped as the breed not likely to succeed as disc catchers. Boy, did they prove those stereotypes ridiculous. What I choose to believe is that no matter what a dog’s breeding or natural instincts, if you save their life, they’re going to go out of their way to please you and be your loyal companion for life.
Stella Snapshot (c)Lynne Holder
I wonder how many people dogs have saved by being a part of their person’s life? I can tell you, our little Schnauzer sure has saved more than one day of my life from total ruin with her playfulness, sweet nature, and sensitivity. I can think of many days that, if not for her, I never would have smiled.
Life Lesson #1: Don’t judge a book by its cover (4-legged or 2-legged).
Life Lesson #2: Dogs rule.
