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To Sharon....
Page Three
 Sharon also handled my next Saluki, Ch. Raszuli Mystic Araba of
Arel
("Beau") for most of his wins. Lisa showed him too, along with a few
other
friends who wanted to race around the ring with Beau. But it was not
to be
Sharon who finished Beau. Sharon DID put 9 points on the boy in 6
consecutive shows before he was a year old! The last show of that
circuit
was a hoot - no points! Everybody quit and went home. What a chuckle
we had
over that one.
In 1995, Mysti produced her first litter of 5 puppies. The
first-born,
Tara, arrived before Sharon, who came to midwife. The whelping was an
easy
one, both for Mysti and us. They were born in my bed, so we were much
more
comfortable than being floor-bound, hanging over any old whelping box!
The
following year, Sharon again assisted with Mysti's second litter of 7
pups,
and again, we were all quite comfortable on that nice high bed! The
month
after Mysti's second litter, Sharon took Tara to the Kentuckiana
shows. The
night I dropped Tara off at Sharon's, she got her first close-up look
at the
Pugs, and promptly had what we jokingly called a "Pug Attack" - Sooo
many
Pugs, so little time! Which to choose first? Sharon and I roared at
the
looks Tara gave those little guys. There was no real attack - Tara
AND the
pugs survived!
Almost 3 years ago, Sharon fell at home while carrying laundry up
her
basement steps. She stepped on a CKCS, tried to back up, and tumbled
backwards to the concrete floor, shattering her hip. It took her over
2
hours to crawl up the steps to the kitchen phone. The break did not
heal,
and she needed hip replacement surgery, which as she said, left her
5'10" on
one side, and 5'11" on the other. A whole year later, another hip
replacement was done to correct the first fiasco. This, of course,
put an
end to Sharon's larger dog handling career. When she was finally able
to
show again, she was limited to the smaller and slower breeds.
 I returned to work in 1997, and my world also turned in another
direction. I now co-owned puppies with new families, and began
helping them
with their show careers. There were fewer occasions when Sharon and I
could
travel together, but we kept the Bainbridge circuit alive and well!
That was
one trip we rescheduled the day after the circuit ended.
 Late this summer, Sharon became ill, which at first was diagnosed
as
pneumonia. But on further examination and tests, the doctors
discovered
cancer. The past few months have found Sharon receiving radiation and
chemotherapy treatments. She celebrated her 50th birthday on October
25, and
on my recent visit with her, I found her spirits to be very good - I'd
even
say excellent, for what she has gone through, and she still has her
sense of
humor. We laughed and told jokes and tales out of school like two
silly
schoolgirls. Sharon's hubby, Don, is such a great source of comfort
and
strength for her. She is a very fortunate lady to have him by her
side!
My prayers and hopes for a bright future are with Sharon and Don
and
their sons and families. And, my gratitude and a deep sense of pride
for all
I've learned, for all the great things that she taught me, and the
bond of
friendship, belong to Sharon.
Get well, my Dear Friend. Please get well.
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