Economics teaches that as we get older we become pessimists because a history of disappointment has been building in each of us. From our earliest days, we tend to engage in behaviors and make decisions where we overestimate the outcomes of success and happiness and thus suffer regular disappointment. Due to circumstances mostly beyond my control, I had to wait 30 years to get my first borzoi, Vaska. There is no way he could have lived up to my expectations. Funny thing, though. He has exceeded everything I ever hoped for. He is elegant, athletic, and adorable. He loves people and regularly sports the famous borzoi grin. In fact, with the possible exception of his father, Teine Intrepid, J.C., Vaska has the best borzoi grin in the world. He is amazing on the chase and has the physical beauty to have gotten me interested in the show ring and, believe me, that took some doing.

He's named for a character in War and Peace, Vasily Dmitriovich Denisov, whose nickname was Vaska. Denisov was courageous, daring, and had no concern for authority. My Vaska has one of those traits. It would be impossible to state how much he means to me and how much I love him. If anybody ever asks you who the luckiest person is on the face of the earth, you can mention my name.

World's Greatest Dog -- Vaska

World's Greatest Breeder -- Anne Midgarden, D.V.M.

World's Luckiest Dog Companion -- Me