01/22/2024
The beauty of life is not in its permanence, but in the memories we create, the laughter we share, and the bonds we forge. Today, as I sit here, my heart is heavy with grief but also brimming with gratitude for having had Darla Lofranco in my life.
Losing Darla feels like having a page torn from the book of my life. A chapter that was filled with 28 years of laughter, shared secrets, unforgettable stories of Kuvasz, and a bond that transcended mere friendship. She was not only my mentor in Kuvasz but a mentor to so many others. Lofranco Kuvasz is the top producing kennel in breed history with more than 100 champions. The top show dogs in North America trace heritage to Lofranco Kuvasz. Her 50+ years in the breed and unmatched knowledge was always shared willingly and unselfishly. Darla was a pioneer when it came to health testing and selective breeding that has positively impacted the trajectory of the breed. Her legacy will be one of generosity with the sharing of bloodlines and wisdom. I always admired how she never judged or forced her opinions on anyone, but offered valuable and truthful advice that I will truly miss.
How do I express the amazing essence and spirit of my dear friend Darla, her selfless generosity, uncompromising belief in all that is good, and unwavering commitment to family and friends? Words, even the very best of words, cannot pay tribute or truly capture the sense of loss that I feel. But my heartfelt hope is that we do her memory justice and take care of our beloved Kuvasz breed like she did for so many years. To have Darla as a friend and mentor was an extraordinary blessing.
When Great Trees Fall
When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and even elephants
lumber after safety.
When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.
When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.
Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance, fall away.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of
dark, cold
caves.
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
― Maya Angelou