It was truly a hard day in January that Sippi died after a very short bout with one of the most aggressive cancers, lymphatic sarcoma, that a dog can get.  My poor smug nine and a half year little old man had no choice but to say goodbye.  Grief stricken, I headed off to Leader Dog to train with my second guide.  When asked if I would accept another Golden Retriever, I gladly said ‘yes’.  I wanted the best match possible.  On February 13, I sat on my bed after lunch waiting for my new arrival.  I felt quite lonely without Sippi and also a little guilty for moving on without him.  For more than seven years, Sippi was my constant companion, partner, friend, and guide.  There is no love like that between guide dog and handler.  Waiting in the room with me were some visitors observing dog issue day.  It helped pass the time to share a picture of Sippi with them as well as stories of our life together.  Leader Dog president, Bill Hansen, appeared in the doorway to tell me that I was getting a southern dog with the appropriate accent in his bark when Sue brought Titan in.  There he was, a smaller, more golden Golden Retriever.  At sixteen months and fifty-five pounds, excited Titan bounced around with all the puppy energy he could muster.  Wagging his seventeen inch tail, Titan greeted everyone in the room.  They doted over him like people dote over a newborn baby.   Then we were left alone to get acquainted.  I loved him from the moment I saw him.  He paced around like a confused boy separated from his trainer, Sue Horn.  He accepted my pets and love and sat in my lap between bouts of pacing.  He listened to my stories about Sippi and our life together.  He accepted me as his new person fairly quickly.  It had been years since I had a puppy and Titan had no problems showing me how it was done.  He is very vocal like my little dog that passed in 2001.  With toys in mouth he expresses himself in the woo-woo language of the Golden Retriever.  He has fit right into my life and has adapted well.  Born from Leader Dog breeders, Whistler and Jackson, and raised by Leader Dog Puppy Raiser, Diane Prieskorn and family, Titan was predestined to be a guide.  He is very focused in his harness making him an excellent guide.  He also loves the socialization he gets while on tie down in the office and in the nursery with the children.  Titan is all puppy at home and provides hours of entertainment clowning around with his toys.  Sometimes I think he channels the spirit of Sippi.  That Hoover nose starts working on the kitchen floor and he occasionally checks out the bathroom trash can.  Titan, being the huge love sponge that he is, has helped ease the pain of loosing Sippi.  He is my match made in heaven.  Only God knew that Sue was training Titan for me while Sippi was ill and dying.  This week, Titan will accompany me to Hunting Island, SC where I will release Sippi’s ashes to the ocean.  I still miss Sippi more than words can express and my heart still aches from the pain.  The circle of life goes on and Sippi made his part in my life very full.  I am looking forward to many more years of that same independence and fullness of life with Titan.