Day 325

4/6/23

Ranger entered the elementary school as a Rock Star and made his exit the same way!

We entered the main door after passing security and were immediately greeted by the head secretary. When she called his name, others begin to congregate to welcome this amazing guy! The tail had begun to wag and wouldn't quit for quite some time!

Heading up to some of the first grade rooms, we were stopped in the hallway by students and staff alike. Some of the teachers have been known to get right down on the floor for a closer encounter. I love those moments and Ranger does too! We worked our way to the assigned rooms and requested our first reader.

Today, we had a couple of young readers who had never read with Ranger before. English was their second language, but soon the only language needed was friendship. After a pause, probably due to my Golden's size, they started petting, scratching and eventually hugging their audience of one. Sharing their books was such a success! Ranger is the best listener EVER!

We had other readers who were fluent beyond our wildest imaginations. When asked how they learned to read, they never seem to have a firm answer. Most say they just started reading one day. One told us she was born to read! I love it!

A young girl sat down before we left and charmed Ranger and myself to the core. She was a fluent reader, but had her own commentary to accompany the non-fiction selection about animals. It went something like this:

"Bears...you know they won't hurt you unless they are brown. Brown bears, or Kodiak bears, will eat you...I just know it."

"Cheetahs eat animals. I know that's sad, but we eat animals too, you know, so we can't feel bad if cats eat other animals...right?"

"See that fat frog in the picture? They don't have teeth! Did you know that? They swallow their food whole and their tummies just get bigger and bigger! Isn't that amazing?"

The entire time she read and shared her own opinions, this little one had her hand on Ranger. He sat there for almost 15 minutes and didn't move. He seemed to know she needed the contact. It was so very sweet!

When it was time to go, we said our farewells at the office and headed out to the car. As we approached the Subaru, a gentleman approached us from the parking lot and said, "Is that the Man of the Hour? Ranger, right? My daughters LOVE that dog and talk about him all the time!"

I am not even sure we have read with his girls! This big, red Golden is certainly The Man of the Hour! For me, he is just about perfection. I am so lucky to have him at the end of the leash!