STYLE

On December 23, 2003, the NDDC Opvang (Rescue) called me. Back then my command of the Dutch language was not so good, so I ran next door to get my neighbor to help me communicate with the Rescue coordinator. There was a 12-month old blue female Great Dane sitting in Rescue who urgently needed a home. I had my neighbor explain to the coordinator that my husband would not be home from the ship until December 28 and asked if we could possibly come to see this dog on December 29.

December 29, 2003 rolled around, and Eric and I drove to the Rescue Center to see this dog. The Rescue worker went into the building and brought out this jumping, giant Great Dane. I remember thinking to myself, “This is a big dog!” Her name was Marike Sarah, and her previous owner had called her SARAH.

The Rescue worker told us to take the dog around the block for a walk and then we could make up our mind. I had purchased a brand-new leather collar and leash just for the occasion thinking that we would take this dog no matter what. We returned from the walk around the block and told the Rescue worker that we wanted her. We signed some papers and paid a small adoption fee, and we loaded this bouncing, blue female Great Dane into our car. As we were driving home with the radio on, a song came on the radio by Cold Play “God gave you style and gave you grace. God put a smile upon your face.” And I looked at Eric and said, “Let’s call her STYLE.” STYLE was my first Great Dane, the song in my heart, the love of my life.