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12 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2021 By Suzanne Wade, Resident On January 25, 2021, on a winter day in Camp Point, Illinois, a litter of Golden Retrievers was born. After coming cross country by truck, plane and car, my female arrived. When one is used to cold weather and comes to warm/hot weather, they usually consume many liquids. The same is true for animals, and Gigi is the queen of thirsty in this house. And then, what goes in must come out – about the size of a lake or large pond. The first night she was a Good Girl and used the pee pad. Good Girl translated in my tired brain to Gigi – instead of Goldie, Sandy or Queenie, my first options. However, since then she's initiated every room in the house and is still doing it, just when I think the house-breaking chore is accomplished. Angel, my six year old Yorkie mix, had high hopes that Gigi was just visiting and would go home with the breeder when she left. After all, that's what happens when sister Sue visits with her American Eskimo dogs. What a surprise when Monday morning came around and the ritual walk began, but, with this extra dog. Since then they have become close friends and play well together, and now and then we can all walk together without pulling Mom in two directions at the same time. Gigi is now almost full size, and Angel can walk UNDER her with some room to spare. It is quite comical to watch them try to take possession of the same toy, as Angel hangs on and is dragged from one end of the house to the other. A lovely Linda of our community (there is more than one, so I can use her first name) turned me on to the best purchase I have made for Gigi. It's called "Gentle Leader Headcollar." I used it when she was a young pup and then after about 10 days she walked nicely without it. Now puberty has set in and those hormones are raging. Gigi chewed the strap stop on the first one, so I had to purchase another one – this time it is working the same as the first time and we walk with a nice loop in the leash, no pulling, or jerking my arm trying to go after our rabbits, birds and lizards. On the positive side, I managed to gain some muscle to go along with my bat wings. She's grown into her paws, but I know she will still get bigger and I'm ok with that. At one time when I lived in Camp Point, Illinois, I had three Golden Retrievers at the same time. We had great adventures, so I'm looking forward to the same thing with Gigi and Angel. Pet of the Month Interview By Dick Roppé, Resident Watching our exceptional USA athletes performing in the Olympics got me thinking – a dangerous proposition at best. Be forewarned. In writing this article I might well receive a resounding chorus of PSHAWS! When I was a junior high school counselor I wanted to give my eighth graders a shot at finding out a little more about their interests and aptitudes. Specifically, I had them take a couple simple commercial tests. I've always felt that telling children they can do anything they want, calls for a wee bit of caution. The idea that if you have a passion for something and you work hard you'll achieve your "dream." To me passion alone is not enough. The key here is to meld interest and aptitude with passion. Using myself as a bad example, being 6'6" and over 200 pounds, there was no chance of my becoming a Willie Shoemaker, regardless of any passion I might have had. For those who don't know, Willie was a famous jockey weighing 105 pounds and standing 4'11" - with his boots off. I know that many people aren't that passionate about their field of employment, yet some are. On the other hand, one may very well have an interest, aptitude and passion for stamp collecting, writing, cooking or gardening. The conjunction of these three attributes can be for a hobby, avocation or pastime, not just one's chosen profession. Let this be a tribute to the young – and in some cases older Americans - who had the interest, aptitude, passion and put in the work necessary in achieving their goal of becoming Olympians. USA! USA! Passion – A Cautionary Tale