"TRC"

I remember the story you told us about how your Japanese students referred to you as "THE Rhonda Carter" and that was back in the day when you spelled your name with the "h" in it...and how much we laughed about that...so you became TRC to me and Sherrie and nobody else knew what we were talking about...it was our little silly private joke and so we called you TRC from then on.

I remember the first time I ever worked with you, Burn was 11 months old...I was so excited to get to work with you and so nervous...you hated his breeder and I was so worried you would not like him because of her, but I was so wrong...you loved him and you helped mold him into the agility dog he became.

I remember confiding in you years ago about some things that had me so upset and will never forget your advice..."rise above it" you told me...those are words that I try to live by to this day.  You were the first person I called when Burn had his first seizure...you were so supportive and so willing to share your experiences and knowlege about seizures...I can't tell you what that meant to me...I wish I could.

I can't tell you how many times just recently I have wanted to call you and ask for your advice or to send  you an email with one of Burn or Triumph's runs to ask you what you think...I've had so many reasons lately to want to talk to you...everytime I did, you would have the answer or you would make me feel better.

I regret not picking up the phone more often over the years just to say hey...your phone and email and address are still in my contacts and I can't bring myself to delete them...I don't know if I ever willl...I check your Facebook wall on a regular basis and each time, my heart races a little because each time I type your name, I fear your page will be gone...death is so final and I never got to say goodbye and to thank you again for the help you gave me, for your advice, for listening, for helping me pick out Triumph, and for just being my friend...so thank you so very much.


I'm so thankful Michele did this memorial for you for Clean Run...I think you would like it...

Rest in peace, TRC...I miss you...