This week we are going to give a talk at Pinecrest High School on Friday. That’s the school A.J. Johnson, another MIRA candidate, attends.  Bob and I are going to talk about the important work of a guide dog – something I happen to know a lot about.

Then on Saturday you can come and see us at SpringFest in downtown Southern Pines. We will be sharing a booth with our friends from the Moore County Pet Responsibility Group – some of the best people around! Look for us at the corner of New Hampshire and Broad Street by the Horse of a Different Color. We will be there between 10 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  Hope to see you.

Later,

Devon

Devon on the road to fame

Bob always says that I am the celebrity he accompanies. Pretty funny, don’t you think, since I am just a dog? But guess what? It turns out I AM a celebrity (not exactly sure what that means, but it has something to do with everyone always fussing over me). Why, oh why, don’t they just feed me, instead? I loved that cookout, remember, folks? Oh, well.

In any case, Elaine, Bob, and I went to the theater tonight at Lee Auditorium. Nice place, by the way – I get a big wide aisle seat every time we go. I highly recommend it – lots of room to stretch out. The show was called “On the Road to Fame” and it had a lot of song and dance in it which is just about my favorite form of entertainment, next to the symphony. I am really a classical canine, but that’s a story for another day.

You know what was cool about Fame? Cinny Beggs, who has worked her you know what off to bring good theater to Moore County, singled out YOURS TRULY and introduced me to the entire audience as a “very special guest ! Wow…I love her.

Bob invited me to stand up and do a kind of doggie-bow to the crowd. For a working dog, albeit one who admittedly gets my fair share of attention, it was very exciting to hear my name called out over the sound system in that large auditorium. At first I got really excited because I thought I had won something…

Alas, that was not the case. Nevertheless, for a few special minutes, your friend, Devon Baillie, was truly on the road to fame. And I loved it!

Thanks, Cinny, for being my friend, and a good Friend of MIRA.

XOXO,
Devon

Whoa…that JFK Airport is  a huge place, but you want to hear the best part? The crew of our plane went above and beyond the call of duty to make our journey safe and enjoyable. Sam,(or was it Kenneth? Bob and I can never seem to agree on these things) the pilot from the first segment, Flight #1106,  even escorted us around the concourse to our connecting departure gate. Now that’s service.  I felt like such a celebrity.  I love JetBlue.

So…I’ll let you now how all of our students are as soon as Bob and I see them, but until then, just remember, if you are going to be flying soon, Go JetBlue. And tell them Devon sent you.

Yours Truly,
Devon (Wings) Baillie

It’s going to be so much fun. I don’t know if we will get a chance to see any of the hockey game, but I imagine we will between intermissions. After all, who will come and see us when the game is on? I don’t know much about hockey, but I love the fact that it is played on ICE – wow- my kind of sport- you get to exercise a lot AND be cool at the same time.  Who thought of this, anyway? And if they play with a puck, why isn’t it it called “puckey”? I absolutely do not understand human language.

Anyway, I really loved meeting those nice people at the Hurricanes, Doug and Kristina., and I would like to personally thank them for taking an interest in MIRA’s work. Hockey, or Puckey, I, for one, am a big fan of the ‘Canes. It’s a great organization committed to giving back to the community- and they are all winners in my book.

Love,

Devon (the wingman) Baillie

Are you sure this food isn't for me?

Ok, so we’re not EXACTLY making bacon in Aiken, but rather,  going there for the first Aiken Dining in the Dark dinner as a MIRA benefit hosted by my friends the Uhles. Can I help myself if I love bacon? I am a dog, after all, and I think about it all of the time. Furthermore,  being a dog who is fascinated by humans’ use of language, I find alliteration to be the cat’s meow. Wait, shouldn’t that be the “dog’s howl” given that I am a canine? What is it with people, anyway? They say the darndest things and a lot of it makes no sense at all.

In any case, Bob, Elaine, Beth, Sandy, Sylvie, John, and, of course, yours truly will be there this coming Saturday, May 19 to join our Aiken friends and supporters at the elegant Reserve Club at Woodside Plantation. I am especially excited to be attending, because my MIRA canine friends, “Sandy” and “Navy” will be there, too. Sandy is Ryan Uhle’s MIRA guide dog and “Navy” belongs to Darcie Crane. I love them. Of course, I will be the Senior MIRA Ambassador, while the young pups will take their cues from me, but I know they are very well trained and I don’t expect them to make a single mistake.

So, everyone is very busy in the MIRA office getting ready for the third Dining in the Dark dinner in just one month’s time. Gotta make the bacon while the sun still shines.

Did I say that right?

Love,

Devon ( the King of Rhyme) Baillie

When my mobility instructor told me about Bob Bailey, MIRA, the possibility of me getting a guide dog, this summer, I didn’t think much of it. I loved the idea, but it seemed too good to be true. It was only when I met Bob, Eric, Beth, everyone, that my dream began to morph into reality. When I first met Devin, I looked at him and told myself, “That’s what I want, that’s what I’ve been dreaming of.” Although Devin wasn’t the first guide dog I’ve ever met, he was the first that seemed real.

Now that I know that I’m getting a dog, my life has completely changed, I have a new perspective on everything. High school doesn’t seem scary anymore; I know I won’t be viewed as a freak. When people see the cane, their first thought is, “What’s wrong with her?” But when they see a dog, they think, “OOOOOOW, dog!”

I’m beyond excited to go to Canada this summer, it’s gonna be amazing, absolutely amazing! I don’t think I can wait to July. This is a huge step towards independence. Sure, I know I’ll still be nervous when I’m wandering in unfamiliar territories, but it sure will be reassuring to know that I’m not entirely alone.
Being a teenager is no easy task. You always want to be accepted, be liked, to be viewed as an equal. Normal teenagers feel that, so to be a blind teenager… well let’s just say it’s no picnic in the park. But with a guide dog, things might change. I don’t want people to just be my friend because I have a dog, but it will help kids approach me better. For some reason, my blindness intimidates them.

I’ve always loved dogs. I currently have two; Tim, who is a pug doxsen mix, and Steve who is a beagle. I love them more than anything, and I think they’ll love my guide dog just as much as I will.

Usually, the idea of going to a different country for a whole month, would probably cause some anxiety for me. The food, my surroundings, my home, the people, and even the language will be different. But I’m not even the slightest bit worried. It’s like I’m finally going to start my life, to venture beyond my homes walls.