the long ride home

Well, out to New Stanton PA yesterday. 3 plus hours to get there. Ann and I met and now he is gone. I had the long 3 hour drive home by myself yesterday to contemplate these maddening dogs. When we picked Echo up from Natalie, I had no intention of bringing home a boy puppy. I wanted a girl. When we went out there, I just couldn't take my eyes off that big boy puppy. He was great. It took me nearly 2 hours to decided that I could do a boy. He was the first dog in 20 years that I finished from the puppy class. He was always willing to please me. With Tanner being his dad, he was always in the shadows, so he looked for ways to stand out. Well, he was also the only Bernese we have ever had to fetch. Newell always tries to toss the ball with the dogs, and year after year, dog after dog they watch Newell toss the ball, and they just don't get it. Oh. some will go after it, but they never bring it back. Well, Echo did. He ran after the ball and brought it back to Newell. The ball quickly became a small tire. When Newell would go out, Echo was beside himself. A quick question, "where is your tire" would send him over the edge. He would locate it and they would play.. It was great to see. I told Ann and Phil to play fetch with him, I am sure they will. She texted me last night that he crawled up into the couch with Phil and tried to lay completely on top of him. That is Echo. And before she went to sleep she texted again and said he was sound asleep on the floor next to the bed. He will be fine. Its me I am worried about..