Who is it that assigns value to these strips of acetate? I sure did this weekend.

Looking at my actions the last couple days, I’m feeling like I exhibited some of the behaviors of someone who cares more about the ribbons than the dog and I never want that to be true. I admit to being quite pleased by the fancy black and silver New Title ribbon we got on Sunday, but hope that I am more excited  by the speed with which we passed through the middle level of USDAA Jumpers. When we started in AKC trials, we were both so new to the sport, it took years to get to excellent level in AKC; and now we did this one title since, like Labor Day or something.  That’s exciting. It means that without the pressure of weaving we can do what they throw at us. And that means that eventually, we’ll get to the top level of USDAA in all four games we play in that venue.

Interesting too is the change in my attitude. When I first met the top level of AKC, I was sca-aaa-RED. Scared like someone who doesn’t think they belong in the position they just got at work. Now I am just so very excited that we’ll get to try harder courses and play with what I used to call “the big kids.” Now we’re big kids too, though maybe at the bottom of that hierarchy.