There's our boy with me at the park just outside our place. Gonna' miss him, but he'll be happy in peaceful surroundings. (Photo by Mary Ivory)
Harper and I head to the Chicago Public Radio studios on Navy Pier tomorrow to record an essay about his early retirement. Plenty of CTA buses go from our neighborhood to Navy Pier, but ever since my Seeing Eye dog was clipped by a car last Spring, he’s afraid to take me across the street to the bus stop. We’ll be taking a cab.
An organization called Transportation for America reports that a pedestrian in America is hit by a vehicle every seven minutes. Our friend Dean Fischer was one of those statistics – he suffered a major shoulder injury after getting hit from behind while crossing at Jackson in downtown Chicago. Staff at Northwestern’s emergency room told Dean that they take care of seven or eight people a day who’ve been hit by cars.
Cell phones weren’t around back in the dark ages (hmm, in my case I probably oughta refer to them as “light” ages…!) when I was still able to get behind the wheel. I can only imagine how tempting it must be to send a quick text or answer a phone call while on the road. I’m hoping that Harper’s story might encourage drivers to think twice about that, though.
Harper moves to his retirement home this weekend. I dread saying goodbye to him, so I focus instead on the trips we’re taking during our last few days together. We’ll have fun in the Chicago Public Radio studio tomorrow, and if any good can come of my gentle sweet two-year-old Yellow Lab’s early retirement, maybe it will be to convince radio listeners who hear it to put their phones away, keep their eyes on the road and prevent one more two-footed or four-footed creature from getting hurt.
Thanks for the post! It’s scary how often these accidents happen. Have a great time at Navy Pier! 🙂
Beth – where is Harper going? This must be so heartbreaking for you. We wish him well!
Thanks, Jenny – I know you and Dennis showed interest (a very *strong* interest, in fact!) in having Harper join your clan in Door County, but we want him relatively nearby. His retirement home is in a quiet leafy Chicago suburb.
Beth, you are so right to promote paying attention and staying off your phone while driving. Looking forward to hearing the piece. I’ve been sad to read about Harper’s need to retire so soon into your partnership. Good-bye Harper.
Amen to that – Barb and I just came from a rules of the road class. We have to take written and drivers exam this year to get our license renewed (when you reach the young age of 75 it is a requirement). I was not anxious to go cause I know everything, I’ve been driving forever you know! My attitude has been changed, I think everyone should go through these classes, not only some changeds in rules but brings your attention to turning corners, changing lanes, and using caution when pedestrians are crossing streets. Enough said!Give Harper a squeeze from me.
Penn
Totally agree: everyone should go through these classes on a regular basis! Thanks for the good wishes, Penn —
…and thanks to all you others up there for your good wishes, too. I’m just about to lean down and give Harper some pats and scratches and hugs for all of you, he’s right here at my feet as I type…
As a complete aside, i hope they don’t make you parallel park to get relicensed. It’s a cute little hurdle when you’re 16, but when you’re an adult and a car is necessary, making you do something on a test that you can avoid doing for your whole driving career is an issue.
Best wishes to Harper, Beth!
I am sorry to hear that Harper will be retiring so early and that you can’t work with him anymore. Where will he be retiring to? When do you return to The Seeing Eye for a new dog? Will you blog us on how your training goes there?
I wish Harper a long and happy retirement!
I leave the Saturday after Thanksgiving to spend three weeks at the Seeing Eye training with a new dog. My husband Mike will take over the blog while I am away, you can look forward to entertaining updates from him…!
Oh Beth…I can only imagine how heart wrenching this will be but what a gift you are giving him…and I do hope his story can raise awareness without a doubt. Much luck Harper-enjoy the “easy” life!
Beth (and Mike and Harper),
I know it will be hard to part but Harper did a wonderful job and, as you have written, deserves the comfortable retirement he can look forward to. And, although I understand you have a stressful time coming as you train with a new dog, as an avid reader I look forward to learning even more about the process.
Thank you for sharing your adventures with us.
– Tracie (now back in Korea)
Enjoy these outings with Harper. . .I’ll look forward to the NPR piece.
Thanks, you guys. I don’t think Harper will miss working very much –he will, no doubt, enjoy his upcoming comfortable and easy retirement! I will try and let you know when the public radio piece is supposed to air…
In case you haven’t already heard, Beth, the photo of you and Harper in the park is fabulous! You look glamorous (love that coat!) and Harper looks exceptionally handsome.
Wishing you both much luck in starting new life chapters.
You are the first to describe the photo to me, I do love that coat of mine, and what a joy to be photographed with a handsome dude like Harper. I have my fabulous friend and photographer Mary ivory to thank, I needed last-minute photos for a piece I wrote for Bark Magazine and Mary was there in a, ahem, flash.
I second that, great photo of you two! Anxious to hear your NPR piece.
Agree about the photo. I don’t know if you have a business card, but you might think of using this photo on one. It’s charming and you both look terrific. And since Hanni has been immortalized on “Safe and Sound,” it seems only fair to have a little homage for Harper. Farewell, Harper, and enjoy being a regular dog.
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Hi Beth, I read your first memoir several years ago (I wrote one as well and enjoy reading the stories of other authors who are blind and choose to be vulnerable and share their own experiences). I just happened to find your blog yesterday. The first entry I read was about your home visit from TSE when you and your dog Harper were having trouble. I recently came home with my third guide, a yellow lab named Brooklyn, from Pilot Dogs in Ohio. She’s a sensitive young dog and needed some confidence boosting when we first came home to a downtown area in the capital city of SC. I read about clicker work and started using it with her when approaching downcurbs, to help with some veering issues, and a couple other little things. I agree that it can be a tremendous help along with other forms of reinforcement, especially for food-loving Labradors. You two obviously tried hard and he did his greatest work so early in your partnership. I had to retire my first dog young due to stress and such situations are hard and painful. My second worked for almost fourteen years, up until just a few days before I had a vet come and help us say goodbye. We enter into these, and all relationships, never knowing for sure how things will go or how long we’ll have. Each moment is precious and each relationship is a chance to learn and love. Blessings to you and all the two and four legged loved ones in your home.
Carmella Broome
Author of Carmella’s Quest: Taking On College Sight Unseen (Red Letter Press 2009)
http://CarmellasQuest.WordPress.com
Thanks for this, Carmella –I’m going to check out your book now.
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