I realized the date of September 15, 2013 came and went without any special notice by me, for which I reproach myself sharply. It was the tenth year anniversary of the establishment of Blyss Kennels, at the first Blyss Kennels & House on S—– L——, along the Watchung Reservations border in M——–. Perhaps it would be more accurate to write that the history of Blyss Kennels ended after eight years, when Bob died; or after nine years, since on December 15, 2012 I abandoned the spacious site of the first Blyss House for that of a smaller home and kennel. However, I left with three borzoi so I did not consider it the end. It is a little hard to ignore the end running up on my heels now that I just have one, and he is an old, frail borzoi at that.
I give a lot of thought to the future. I could quietly slip away in the annals of borzoi breed history with my own “Mikhailya” and her puppy, “Magnus”/”Max” in Japan having put us on the map along with Karen Staudt-Cartabona of Majenkir Borzoi kennels. Or, continue to ride the coat tails of the doomed “Opal” story, yet another anniversary I no longer acknowledge, July 7, 2006. Her premature death at less than two years of age changed me irrevocably. Sometimes, we learn that we do not really know ourselves, what is truly important to us and what is not. Sometimes we are as shocked by ourselves as everyone around us watching. Then, we find ourselves awakened from a nightmare where we are total strangers … after all, God having taken the very best…..
No…. none of that has validity anymore. They were milestones to learning what needed to be understood. Looking ahead, I am going to find another Blyss borzoi and have made inquiries and contacts. I am so happy to know this, to know a plan is in the works, even if I cannot reveal it now. But there will be a Blyss Kennels, for sure. Even if there is not a borzoi living here for a while, Blyss Kennels will endure.