Who would have believed that after getting hit by a car and being so injured, a dog could have such a wonderful morning as this one!

We all remained like this for a few minutes, with Rosie on the sidewalk with her mom and me on the front steps with mine.

Just then, one of our family friends came by. He loves and understands dogs and he loves and understands me and I love him and “Lucky” is his black Labrador Retriever (and I can always smell Lucky all over Al when Al comes over and besides, Al always knows when to give me a treat) so when Al heard that my sister was here and he saw her, right away he went over to her and they made friends. This made Rosie feel more comfortable, too.

Our friend Al introduces himself to Rosie. Rosie and Al make friends.

After Rosie seemed relaxed with Al and  I was okay with sitting and looking on, our moms decided it was time for me to get a little closer to Rosie.

Somehow I got the signal from my mom that it was okay to go a little closer. Maybe she let out on the lead a little; maybe she said “Joey, come”, I’m not sure. But we were able to communicate just fine.

This time, I was allowed to go right to the sidewalk but my mom kept me a few feet away from Rosie. Honestly, this is very difficult for me because I wanted to get close right away, but my mom held me back. (Actually, she gave my lead to Al, who is pretty strong and knows me and knew exactly what to do to keep me a few feet from Rosie .)  It was only for a little while though, so it was okay.

Rosie and I are exploring each other still from a distance but closer.

You can see in the photo how much I’m trying to get closer to Rosie but Al has to work hard to restrain me. Rosie is interested in me too, and her mom has to work hard to restrain her. At night my parents said things like “We were smart in waiting to get Rosie and Joey together so far after his surgery and after his bandages were removed because he was putting a lot of pressure on his leg, pushing on it to get closer to Rosie, and in these last few weeks his leg has gotten strong enough to handle this.” I guess they’re right. And I’m not complaining. This is a great day – any day!

After a few minutes, our moms decided that it was time to allow the next big step! We both were eager for this next step.

nose to nose

This was really a fun moment.  It was also a good moment.

Shortly after that, Rosie allowed me to lick her face a little. This was my way of inviting her to play and to tell her that I like her and want to take care of her!  Rosie let me lick her face for a moment and I heard “That’s good enough for now.  Let’s maybe start walking soon. We don’t want to do too much too fast. We have lots of time; let’s not push it.”

And with that, our moms decided to pull us apart again.  But then I heard “Let’s go in this direction” and off we went, Rosie first and me following.

I’ll tell you more about our first reunion tomorrow; please enjoy these photos!

*****Now you can go to Part 3. ***

*****

The day that I never thought would arrive has arrived! My mom must have been pretty good keeping secrets from me – almost as good as I am keeping secrets from her! Rosie has accepted our invitation to play and my mom has decided that I’m strong enough and healthy enough to now go for a walk around the block with my littermate.

Last night my Mom said something like "Go to sleep, Joey. Tomorrow will be a big day. We’re going to see Rosie!" but I didn’t really get what she was saying.

This morning I was inside and my mom was outside. I knew something big was going on outside but I couldn’t see what.  Still, I could hear it.  What had happened was this: A car had pulled up to the sidewalk outside our home and Elisabeth, Rosie’s mom, had gotten out then Rosie had gotten out.  Elisabeth and my mom had decided to keep me inside the home while Rosie got comfortable in a new place and with new people.

But when my mom came inside, I could smell Rosie all over her hands and arms. I kept sniffing for more and more information: Where was she? Would she be happy to see me? Could we play soon? It was wonderful! I could barely contain myself and if I had been a water balloon I would have exploded. This was Rosie, my littermate; we were born together ten years ago!

Soon my mom put me on my lead and slowly allowed me to go outside. First she had me sit on the front step of our home for a while, while Rosie remained on the sidewalk. Rosie and I just looked at each other and got comfortable like that for a while. It was pretty difficult. I wanted to get up but my mom would say "Sit" so I remained, according to her instructions.  You can see from the photo, from how perked my ears were, that I wanted to head straight for Rosie. But I obeyed my mom.

While I was there and Rosie was their, our moms were saying things like "Good boy" and "Good girl" so that each of us felt loved and comfortable in this new setting and situation.

Then things got even better!

I’m going to write more about our exciting morning later but I want you to see photos of me and of my sister and littermate those first moments, the first moments of our reunion.

Life is getting back to normal – slowly but surely. Actually, life is better than normal! Today started with a big surprise – a good one. It’s great and exciting to have my sister back in my life after all these years!

Now please go to Part 2.

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While I’m recuperating, I thought I’d tell you a little something about my family tree.

First, I’m a Labrador Retriever. Labrador Retrievers have a nickname, “Fisherman’s Friend” and a look at our paws shows that our toes are webbed!  Our powerful tail, which on me is usually wagging, is used to steer us when we are swimming.  Labrador Retrievers were also bred to be used in hunting: We would retrieve, or bring back, the small animal such as a bird to our owner. Fisherman from Newfoundland, in Canada, first brought us to Great Britain in the 1830′s and there we became known as “Labrador Retrievers”.

I was born in Connecticut in 1999.  My father was Buckfold Classical Sir and he was British.  He was classified “Junior Hunter”, a champion hunting dog.  I have many championship hunters from my father’s side, such as my father’s grandfather Bradking Cassidy, and his great- grandfather Armadha Mad Hatter and his-great-grandmother, Bradking Black Charm,and her parents Follytower Merry Brook Black Stormer and Bradking Bonny My Girl, and not to forget my great-great-great grandfather Charway Ballywill Will, and my great-great-great-great-grandmother, the famous Sandylands Tandy, on and on it goes, back and back in time to the great Banchory Bolo.

My mother was Cocoa and she was American.  I loved her. She was my mother.

In my litter, things were doing just fine. I had brothers and sisters born with me! My mother was only 3 or 4 years old when I was born.  However, while I was still a little puppy, my mom got sick and died.

All of us brothers and sisters found new homes and parents to love and take care of us.  Fortunately, Phil came along and brought me to his home and I had a whole new human family, with two parents and a sister who loved and love me very much.

Here’s a funny story about how my littermate sister and I met by chance one day:  One day Jane and I were together, she was bringing me to a kennel for a few days, and in the lobby a she saw another chocolate Labrador Retriever that looked just like me and she went up to her parents and asked, “Where was your dog born?” and “How old is your dog?” and it turned out that this was my sister and littermate! You see, Rosie, one of my Labrador Retriever sisters, lives in my town and finally, after  9 -1/2 years, we were in the same place at the same time.

You can see, in the photo to the right, how we have a family resemblance.

Since that day, Rosie’s mom and my mom Jane have been communicating.  They want to get together with us two Labrador Retrievers and we will all take a walk together when I get better and am allowed to walk for longer distances and to be around other dogs!

Here’s a funny story about how my sister and I met by chance one day:  One day Jane and I were together, and she saw another chocolate Labrador Retriever that looked just like me and she went up to her parents and asked, “Where was your dog born?” and “How old is your dog?” and it turned out that this was my sister and littermate! You see, Rosie, one of my Labrador Retriever sisters, lives in my town and finally, after 9 -1/2 years, we were in the same place at the same time

You can see, in the photos of Rosie both to the left and right, how we have a family resemblance. We even have the same grey hairs!

Since then, my sister’s mom and my mom Jane have been communicating.  They want to get together with us two Labrador Retrievers and we will all take a walk together when I get better and am allowed to walk for longer distances!

I have a lot to look forward to.