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Thank You, Ace

When your dog is reaching 10 years old, you start to think of all you’ve been through together.

With Ace, I have so many memories.

Like the time Josh and I took him on his first camping trip. In April. In Minnesota.

It was 2 degrees Fahrenheit that night in Itasca State Park, something close to a record low for that date. I’d only had my dog for three weeks and already he was sleeping in my sleeping bag. This wasn’t to spoil him but to keep him alive!

Ace and me camping in Itasca State Park

Or, not too long after, when Ace ran with me in a 5-mile race in Fargo. He was determined we were going to win that race!

And how he visited my Grandma in the nursing home, sat near her bed one night while (I realize now) I was really telling her goodbye.

He was with us on the shores of Lake Superior when Josh asked me to marry him. Later, he was at our wedding ceremony.

I’m not sure I can count all our camping, boating and hiking adventures in Minnesota, North Dakota and California. Or how many times he dove head first into any body of water.

Ace in Maplewood State Park

My black Lab mix Ace fetching a log

my black Lab mix Ace

My black Lab mix Ace at the ocean

We brought him into Canada, to Thunder Bay, and back.

He went tubing with me in Detroit Lakes and we lost his tennis ball. Another weekend, he swam for nearly two hours as my friends and I played frisbee in the lake. We could touch the bottom; he could not.

And not only these things, but my dog led me to start a business, a blog, to follow my passion for writing, dog training and dog rescue. He introduced me to dog agility. He’s helped me make and maintain friends I would never have even met otherwise (you know who you are).

He forces this introvert to leave her apartment! OK, the couch, even.

Thank you, Ace.

I’m so thankful for this dog.

My black Lab mix Ace and me

 

Rodney

Sunday 29th of November 2015

Great post, Lindsay!

Having a dog or dogs in your life can surely add to your adventure. Many tales can be told about your experiences with Ace, and you have just scratched the surface. I have had dogs in my life since I was a little boy, except for the six years I was in the Navy. and each dog I have had the pleasure to join my family is still cherished, from my first dog King, a Golden Retriever I had in the late 50s/early 60s to Rebel, my latest addition, a mastiff/boxer mix.

Hoping you still have quite a few more adventures with your Ace!

Lindsay Stordahl

Sunday 29th of November 2015

Thank you!

Lindsay Stordahl

Saturday 28th of November 2015

Thank you!

slimdoggy

Wednesday 25th of November 2015

Love it - I bet Ace is thankful to have you too!

Angela

Tuesday 24th of November 2015

This is one of my favourites from you. As Shep was getting older, I got super sentimental about all our time together. He too was a well-traveled dog, road tripping all around Alberta, B.C., Washington, Idaho and Montana. He even endured a three-week cross-country road trip from Calgary through the states to Nova Scotia. I have many picture and many more memories.

Shep went through torsion surgery in November 2013. When he came through, I pledged to make sure he smiled every day for the rest of your life. We hugged, we kissed, we took pictures, we road tripped. He was gone a little more than nine months later.

Hug Ace every day. Kiss him every day. Take more pictures. Make more memories.

For every day you've had together, make sure each one coming up is even better, full of even more love. He's worth it.

Lindsay Stordahl

Saturday 28th of November 2015

Thank you.

Rebekah

Monday 23rd of November 2015

I love these posts.