Charlie at Work

Although most of the holidays found us nursing each other through various stages of the flu, we did enjoy at least one day of whole-family-good-health.  When we discovered our good fortune that morning, we decided to celebrate with a trip to the beach so we packed up the truck and headed to Aptos.

Being northern CA, I didn't expect that it would be freezing, but I never expected it to be warm.  In fact, it was warmer on the beach than we've experienced there in the late spring.  That being the case, Tim HAD to have his shoes off, shorts on, and feet in the icy Pacific (sometimes I'm thankful that I'm the photographer!)  Of course Charlie was all too happy to partake in this craziness and that's just how these energetic boys spent the afternoon.
But it wasn't the icy frolic that was the highlight of the afternoon, at least not for me.  My excitement built as I watched the Charlie Effect occur just exactly as Patty Dobbs Gross explains it in all of her North Star Foundation information.   While strolling on the beach with Charlie,  Andy and Tim were approached by a small pack of young girls, all smitten with Charlie.  (This is what Patty aptly describes as the magnetic effect of a well trained dog.)  

Seeing this, I gave Tim the slightest prompting and suggested that he go tell the girls about his dog.  The rest unfolded like a script out of a North Star text book.  Tim told the girls that his dog's name was Charlie and then joined them in bestowing some love on Charlie.  (Please note in the photo below ... especially Wendy the trainer ... that Charlie is in a sit stay just like he's supposed to be when he's receiving attention.)  

There were a few other short utterances before the girls left us to go on their way.  The whole interaction lasted but a few minutes but the duration didn't matter.  Just the fact that it happened.  It was all just so ... normal ... and hopeful.   Hopefully, Tim enjoyed that interaction enough to repeat it the next time someone approaches us to inquire about Charlie.  I'm extremely optimistic.