Winston's Graduation (Picture Long Post)

So, Saturday was Winston's graduation. I, of course, went. This was the day after I arrived back in town so I was a little sleep deprived. But I still went to see Mr. Wiggles and Katlynn. Mary and Lance, and Jen and Luther and Kendrick (and Jen's husband and son, Pete and Niel) went up to Guide Dogs really early in the morning. This was no problem for me seeing as I was awake at 4:30 in the morning as my body believed it to be 12:30 in the afternoon. After the long drive we finally got to meet up with Katlynn, Winston, and his new partner.

He was so excited to see everyone that he wouldn't look at the camera. Katlynn and her boy!

We found at that while in training Winston went into foster care because he really didn't like the kennels. He was just too excited. So, his foster family came to see him graduate as well. Jumping on his foster dad.
Such a happy boy.
Trying to play with all of his friends.

Katlynn brought him a Nylabone Ring. He liked to show all of us that he got a new toy.

Then it was time for us to leave Katlynn and Winston and his new partner so that they could go take pictures and finish talking. We took our seats in the audience and waited patiently for the ceremony to start.

At the beginning of every graduation they show a little puppy just ready to go home to its raiser family. This little one is PUMA. We're thinking he's an Alonzo puppy. Alonzo was raised in the other puppy raising group here in town.

Then the ceremony started. Winston was one of the last puppies, but we finally got there. :)

Katlynn walking her boy across stage.
Katlynn handing the harness off to Winston's new partner.
He gave me a nice look at the camera.
A look back at his Mom.
You can tell he's really happy with his partner.

Winston just started posing for the camera didn't he?
So, I really like this picture because Winston is looking all grown up and alert and his partner is just smiling!Quite possibly though, my favourite picture of the day.

Time for Katlynn's speech.
She didn't cry at all during her speech.
You can see our Winston looking all alert and ready for work.

At the end of the ceremony we are allowed to go back and have refreshments and talk to the graduates again. So, that's what we did. We all went back and congratulated Katlynn and Winston's new partner. They seem like they're just the perfect match. Guide Dogs did it again. Then Katlynn had to leave.

Winston saying good bye to his Mom.

I'm not going to lie. I cried a little, but not during the graduation. I cried when Katlynn and I said good bye. You see, Winston and Freya were best friends. Ever since Katlynn and I and Freya and Winston shared a room together at Fun Day in '09 the two dogs were inseparable. Katlynn and I also became pretty good friends. So, with Winston graduating and Katlynn now living in Utah and Freya graduating and me now living in Scotland...well, I guess I just realised that we're all growing up and we aren't the same people who started puppy raising together. So yes, I did tear up just a bit when I realised that it would be a long, long time before I see Katlynn again...if our path cross again at all.