For Leslie, Donna, Jane & family. Written from the heart with love, Barbara Galasso Today the tunnel of light was opened and shone on another German Shepherd great....Henry Dancosse. But before he was allowed to enter this tunnel of light, he was approached by Saint Francis, patron saint of animals. He told Henry that God saw fit to take some of earth's German Shepherd Dog people these last few months for his own purposes. God told him that it looked like people on earth were having so much fun showing his dogs, that he decided it was time to put on the first ever National GSD Specialty in Heaven because I'm tired of all you earthly people bickering about where to have the next National. He told Henry that in order for him to enter heaven that he would have to pass a test first. Now there were so many great dogs of the breed that had passed away over the years, and that he being a GSD handler, he would get his choice of all the top dogs that were in Heaven. But he told him to choose wisely, for although Ernie Loeb was there too in Heaven, this would not be his assignment this day; no it would be God who would be the judge of this event. Henry was excited. Just think he said to himself. "I get to choose from all the greats that have passed away". "Wow, Lance, Paladen, Rosemary, Manhattan, Hawkeye, Hammer, Andretti, Nestles Crunch". "Who do I choose, who do I choose?" Just at that moment an old familiar voice called out to him. He said "Henry,, dar....ling, don't even think of taking Lance in". "That's who I'll be showing." "He may have been Jimmy's dog on earth, but up here he belongs to me" "Besides, everyone kows up here as they did on earth that no one knows how to stack a dog like me," LaMar said as he threw his hands up in the air. "Now boys, boys, stop your bickering, Charlie Chester said. "Don't pay attention to him Henry." He and I were out partying too much last night so he doesn't know what he's talking about." "At this rate, if we keep this up, we might both find ourselves in purgatory". Just then an announcement came over the loud speaker by another familiar voice. "Ladies and gentlemen, gather up your dogs and bring them to the rings and they better be in top "Naked Care" condition a laughing voice said. "Well, I'll be darned", Henry thought to himself. "Len Steen is still making announcements and still cracking the jokes". "OK then LaMar you can take in Lance, Ill take in Manhattan". "God should be impressed with him". He broke all records on earth". As this thought lingered in his mind, he heard a small little voice whisper, "hey mister, I know you have a choice of which dog to take in but I was wondering if you would please take my little guy in." "I know he's not much to look at with his long coat, down ears, overshot bite, and he kind of elbows coming at you, but he has a big heart and he'll try to win for you". Henry looked at the child and remembered what he tried to practice while on this earth. "To thine own self be true". He knew he always did try to help the little guy. "Yup, I'll take your little guy in for you", he told her. All the greats strutted in. Age certainly didn't change these guys. LaMar and Lance.....what a team (Jimmy Moses, eat your heart out). And in walked Henry with his down eared, long coated shepherd. God asked them to move their dogs around the ring and Henry's dog hit the end of the lead and the two of them floated around the ring like there was not one else there but them. No double handling was needed or allowed in Heaven. The dogs ears stood straight up, his coat smoothed over. God pointed to Henry and the crowd of angels and saints roared. When God approached Henry to congratulate him on his win, he said, "you did well my son". "You passed the test". He said "you see as you were on earth, so you are here too in Heaven". "You never let the little guys down." "You stood for what you believed in.....you were true to yourself." "A gentleman there, a gentleman here". We don't have any trophies in Heaven Henry". "We just have ways of earning your "wings". ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2005. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================