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Can/Am Ch. Nanjay's Noteworthy - "Norbert"
July 19th, 1993 - December 10th, 2005
Please don't mourn too long for me,
I'm still here, though you don't see.
I'm right by your side each night and day,
and within your heart I know I'll stay.
My body is gone, but I'm always near.
I'm everything you feel, see or hear.
My spirit is free, but I'll never depart,
as long as you keep me alive in your heart.
I'll never wander out of your sight,
I'm the brightest star on a summer night.
I'll never be beyond your reach,
I'm the warm moist sand when you're at the beach.
I'm the colorful leaves, when fall comes around,
and the pure white snow that blankets the ground.
I'm the beautiful flowers of which you're so fond,
the clear cool water in a quiet pond.
I'm the bright blossoms you'll see in the spring,
and the first warm raindrop that April will bring.
I'm the rays of light when the sun starts to shine,
and you'll see that the face in the moon is mine.
I'm the warm salty tears that flow when you weep,
and the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.
I'm the smile you'll see on a puppy's face.
Just look for me --- I'm everyplace!
Remembering Norbert
by Nanci J. Footitt
It is with a heavy heart and many dried tears that I must tell you that our long-time cherished companion, Norbert (Am. Can. Ch. Nanjay's Noteworthy) crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge on Saturday, December 10th, 2005 (a few months away from his 13th birthday).
From the very beginning, Norbert was my son's dog. Corbin had just learned to walk (without falling over too much!) when he first starting playing with our litter of puppies. He was easily entertained with these bundles of black and white -- all of the puppies running, jumping and, of course, lots of licking and kissing! But whenever Corbin plopped himself down there was always the same male puppy who would be crawling onto his lap - much to Corbin's delight. And everyone knows that the fastest way to a new mother's heart is through her children! And so, this little puppy's destiny was sealed -- my son had a dog of his own.........
What can I tell you about Norbert? Well, what can anyone say about a cherished friend, a family member? Norbert helped me raise my son. He taught Corbin about love, compassion, responsibility and patience, to name just a few things. He was my son's buddy, my confident, our boy, and we miss him so much.
It was in Norbert's first spring that my son and I were sitting in the back yard when we discovered Norbert's passion. BUBBLES! Corbin was blowing and watching bubbles float across the yard and then over the corn fields and was totally enthralled with the whole event. All of a sudden this black blur went flying by, jumping four feet in the air, and caught some bubbles -- Norbert had found his "groove".
Norbert was never one to play with a lot of stuffed toys as most of my Springers have. No. Norbert specialized -- bubbles! He would play as long as you were willing to (or until we had to make him stop as he was too tired!) and start barking at you if you were too slow in producing the bubbles. It was an absolute joy to watch, and I must admit, quite the crowd-pleaser! Oh yes, you could not say the word "Bubbles" in the house and not go outside and blow some for him -- not without hurting his feelings and having him sulk for hours! :) And I am happy to report that Norbert was still out in the back yard, in the fall of his twelfth year chasing his bubbles!
I fondly remember watching Corbin, at about age 3, pulling his new yellow and blue wagon around the back yard with Norbert sitting in the back. Five minutes later Corbin had devised a "harness" with some leads and Norbert was pulling the wagon around with Corbin sitting on the back -- who ever knew that Springers could be cart dogs! These two boys played this way with the wagon for an entire summer.
For many years when visiting us here at Nanjay you would be greeted by our two lovely black and white boys, Norbert and T-Bone. Norbert shared the duties of greeter and puppy-sitter with T-Bone and he had that wonderful attitude (that all Springers should have) when meeting new people -- "no such thing as a stranger -- just a new friend, who, of course, has come here to meet ME"!
Born to be a Champion
Norbert was an easy-going big puppy; he seemed to be growing as fast as my son! I thought that I would enter him in some conformation shows before he hit a year of age as he impressed me with both his conformation and movement. Proudly, we can report that Norbert finished his Canadian championship quickly, with several Best Puppy In Groups and a Best Puppy In Show along the way. Good friend and professional handler, William Alexander, handled him for me when I was unable (boy it's not easy going to a dog show with a puppy AND a toddler!!) and did a great job with Norbert. William was very amused at the way Norbert's tail was ALWAYS wagging -- even when he was stacked and in the "show pose". It was fun to watch him in the ring, tail slowly wagging like a pendulum and as the judge came closer the tail would go faster and faster. You could always tell how far away the judge was by how fast Norbert's tail was wagging!
When Norbert was "all grown up", good friend (and then handler) Steve Dainard took Norbert stateside to see how we would do in the 'big time' south of the border. Steve showed Norbert at specialties and support shows only, as there is usually more of a chance of finding majors this way. Norbert was exhibited a total of five days in the states and came home with four four-point majors!! Wow, that was fast! Steve did an amazing job presenting Norbert and had lots of fun showing him too! I explained to many friends that Norbert just "had" to finish quickly, because Corbin said that "Stevehandler" (as my son called Steve) could borrow Norbert for some overnight visits (as all of the U.S. shows required this) but "not too many" as it was difficult for Corbin to sleep without his dog! So Norbert became known as Am. Can. Ch. Nanjay's Noteworthy.
Norbert earned many group placements (with me on board as the handler), and Steve piloted him to a Group First on one of the few occasions we showed him as an adult. Norbert did VERY well as a veteran at the specialties, earning several Best Veteran Sweepstakes and Best Veteran In Specialty awards. His only time out in the conformation ring in 2005 saw him win Best Veteran In Sweepstakes at the Southwestern Ontario Sporting Dog Club. This was an especially sweet win, as Norbert was a few days shy of his twelfth birthday and was the oldest dog in the line up! No matter what, Norbert ALWAYS gave it his all.
I have been blessed with having Norbert in my breeding programme. Though not used at stud very much, he certainly made his mark on his babies! The same good conformation and movement as well as the same happy temperament can be found in his kids, grand-kids and even great grand-kids. I am so grateful that I will see him live on in his progeny.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our webmistress for preparing this special memorial page for Norbert. I would also like to thank Dr. Ann Voyame, of the Dufferin Veterinary Hospital in Caledon East, who looked after Norbert and helped to keep him healthy for so many years. Special thanks to Dr. Voyame for so compassionately and gently easing Norbert to the other side - to the world of bridge angels.
I give thanks for the time that Norbert was with us. I treasure all of the moments we had him as a member of our family. He brought us much love and much laughter. There is now an empty spot on the bed, in our hearts, and in our souls.
Sleep softly, dear Norbert. Sleep softly, our forever friend......
Norbert will be sadly missed by his family and friends,
but he lives on in their hearts and in his "kids"...
Ch. Nanjay's Notability ~ "Billie"
Ch. Nanjay's Brimstone 'N Treacle ~ "Dominic"
Ch. Nanjay's Cruise Control ~ "Duffy"
Ch. Nanjay's Canamer Keepsake ~ "Keeper"
Ch. Nanjay's Notably Nathaniel ~ "Nat"
Ch. Nanjay's Patriot ~ "Riggs"
and 'grand-kids',
and 'great grand-kids'...
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