So early May, Lotta Broströmer and Magnus Boström Belekhaan Borzoi call me from Sweden while we were at a Show in Elma, Washington. They were breeding Malinita’s Uncle Nowhere- Fast to Magnus’ Belekhaan Morningsun aka Vera that weekend. Nowhere being the Gentleman he is was not quite sure Vera was too keen on him but his brother Meatball had no hesitation that first day. We chatted for a bit about Malinita’s weekend fun and said good by. Next day I heard that Nowhere had been reassured by Vera she indeed liked his attention and they had had a successful date.
And then the weeks went by. Lotta and I talk almost everyday and about four weeks later I heard Vera was expecting. I thought oh thats nice.
July 5th, 7 pups arrived to Vera, 2 girls and 5 boys and 1 boy did not survive.
One of the girls had a black mask.
And a champagne red fawn blanket.
My favorite coloring.
But ohh well…probably not the temperament.
So weeks go by and pup photos trickle in and that little girl keeps catching my eye.
But did she have that temperament.
Then the DNA test came through that all pups were the Gentle Giant Nowhere’s.
That was my first interior mike drop.
Oh Shit.
Then she and her sister at eight weeks go to stay with Lotta and Malinita’s family.
I knew Lotta would tell me if she had the right “soul” for me as I am oh so very picky.
And about two weeks later Lotta said, “She does indeed.”
Hemming and Hawing and “another puppy, really, now?” squirreled around my brain and I checked with dear Lisa Cinciripini, the Warrior Goddess of Transport Pups the lovely Goddess Roamer had referred me to a year ago, just in case I would entertain another Swedish pup to see if she might be flying off to Europe anytime this Fall.
Indeed she was in early November.
Shhit.
The stars were lining up.
And then I named her.
Zorya. Russian Goddess of Beauty. Associated with the Auroras.
So I named a pup across the World and engaged the wheel to get her here.
So Lisa winged two Neo pups to Rome last November 4th. We had plotted to wing her up to Copenhagen to fetch this little Goddess home the 8th.
And Stryder left as Lisa flew to Rome.
He was not supposed to go. Oh no. God no. Not now.
But go he did so swiftly adamant.
And I crumpled for a while.
But Zorya was coming and I had to rally…
And Friday came and Lisa Cinciripini met Lotta Broströmer and her Philip Romans who oh so kindly delivered Z to Copenhagen to spend the night with Lisa in Hotel. They called me to sing eachother’s joy about the little one who charmed her way along.
She flirts her way through Copenhagen security and boards the first of two great metal birds which land her in the US 15 hours later.
She and Lisa C spent the night in Olympia, Wa and our new friend Francis delivered Zorya to our front door this am.
We greeted her without the pack and introduced them all one at a time.
We shot all these photos and then I went and sat across the yard and Wizard, Little and the Zor all clustered there.
Hours later I saw the shot. Husband caught the light that haloed us.
I know my Stryder ushered little Zor across the World and in that Light this lovely afternoon embraced all his precious beloveds.
He was always making sure…
Late today Little, Zor and I romped out in the field. Upon arriving back inside she crawled up on the couch, wrapped my arm with hers, laid her head upon my shoulder, shut her eyes and slept. A while later I realized that exactly a week ago today, his last day on Earth, my Sweet Stryder had lain beside me just like that and slept, his paws around my arm…
Tea With Me 