PARTY HEARTY
IN MICHIGAN!

On Sunday evening, Patty Eisenbraun writes: Sue's Saturday

The Saturday afternoon get-together to "meet Sue" was just great. It wasn't big in numbers, but it was big in Airedale talk.

I don't know where to start! The listers who came were Kirk Nims, Mike Billion, Rita Ferrer, Libby Karier & her husband Gary Low, Tim & Monica Mahn, Faye McLeod and Pam Vandergrift and her two daughters. Also we had the mystery Daler, Jude Kegerreis & her husband along with ATRA volunteers Rosemary Moser & Lynn O'Shaughnessy.

Left to right:Kirk Nims, Mike Billion, Sue Forrester, Lynn O'Shaughnessy, Tim & Monica Mahn, Rita Ferrer, Faye McCleod, Rita Moser. Not pictured but there: Libby Karier & husband Gary Low, Pam Vandergrift and her daughters, Jude & husband Bill.

Photo and caption provided by Patty Eisenbraun

There was a brief but momentous visit from Miles Nims, the 90-some pound wonderDale, and little Ooso. The Silly Sisters were in their glory. A group of people who actually paid attention to them and found jumping up to be welcome. And whoever was giving Poppy the nonstop cookies - thanks . . . she's still sitting and barking at the cookie jar!

There was lots of Airedale and Australia talk, food, Australian beer and lots of laughs and oohs and ahhs for the puppy breath.

Libby & Gary drove four hours plus from Chicago and Tim & Monica drove three hours plus from Canada.

Later in the evening, we had a long dinner with Sue, Kirk & Mike and an education about the history of Australia. Although Sue & I had stayed up until 2:30 a.m. on Friday talking, we thought it best to get a good night's sleep so Sue wouldn't be a basket case for the next leg of her trip.

Ken & I delivered Sue safely in the hands of Melanie Findlay & Idgy. Which was a minor change in plans, but it meant I finally got to meet Mel and Idg . . . which seemed to be the theme of the weekend.

Sue, Mel & Idgy. Findlay

Photo and caption provided by Patty Eisenbraun

So, what is Sue really like? If you read Emma's Journey and felt it was written with love and compassion for Airedales - it's just the tip of the iceberg in getting to know what she's like. She's funny, she's attentive, she's gracious, she's stubborn, she's happy, she's got a very serious side . . . hmm. She sounds a lot like some Airedales I know!

What struck me most about the weekend is that I had some total strangers and some dear people whom I have met through Rescue come to my home. All of them were so easy to be around and it's because we all have one thing in common . . . Airedales. Little did I know, years ago, when I got my first Airedale puppy, that someday my life would be so full and so enriched with such wonderful people - and not one was a stranger!

Now, I'm going to start planning for the annual Parade & Picnic we have each year in May. I hope we can get more listers this year!

To see the movie Patty made, click HERE. It's in MPEG format.

Elizabeth Hurtt writes from Australia:

What a lovely post, Patty . . . the next best thing to being there myself (oops . . . 'ourselves', says Chester!)

Sue is indeed all the things you say and more - and if it wasn't for the list - I wouldn't know her & Bill and the A's and I wouldn't have Chester - so thank you all.