Walking the Mona Lisa

About the Book

Walking the Mona Lisa is a true story, although you may not believe some parts. I was there and sometimes I don’t believe it. It’s an attempt to chronicle the life of a devoted, compassionate, and gifted golden retriever, and the affect she had on those around her, specifically me. Two family tragedies had left me bitter and alone, and I was convinced I would remain that way for the rest of my life. Then Ilsa came along and all that changed. Ilsa was purebred golden who came from essentially dog royalty. Her grandfather was Topbrass Cotton who was a National Amateur Field Trial Champion, the equivalent of a Master’s or Wimbledon winner. She grew to become a world-class retriever in her own right, and had I trained her differently I’m sure she could have won numerous field trials. At first I didn’t recognize Ilsa’s full potential. That didn’t happen until I met my wife, who has a wonderful understanding of dogs. With her help Ilsa grew to become a serenely confident, appreciative and giving being. Ilsa rapidly grew into a reliable, hard-working, enthusiastic and willing hunting companion. She was doing things at 6- and 8-months old which other dogs wouldn’t be able to do until they were 2 or 3 years old. Multiple retrieves were no problem since she trusted me implicitly; if I told her there was something to retrieve she believed me and gave it her best. By the time she was 5 she was better than most hunting dogs would ever be; she rarely flushed birds out of range, she didn’t fidget in the blind so as to scare away decoying birds, and she never gave up. With Marcy’s tutelage, I quickly realized we needed to reward Ilsa in special ways since she was such a special being. I had been taking her everywhere with me before I met Marcy, including to work and on an extended road trip, but Marcy convinced me she deserved more. We started to give her special food treats such as homemade dog biscuits of various flavors, dried fruit and frozen yogurt. In addition she was a co-host at all our parties, and our friends came to expect Ilsa to greet them at the door. Ilsa had had a profound effect on me; I had changed from a grumpy, lonely man to someone who once again reveled in the beauties of nature and the simpler things in life. Because of Ilsa I was able to welcome Marcy into my life (and Ilsa’s) and we became “The Three Sweeties”. And we continued to show Ilsa our appreciation by including her in everything we did, including our wedding. She also got to travel with us whenever possible, so that when she died she had swum in both oceans, stayed in 4-star hotels, traveled by private train car, limousine and horse-drawn carriage, and had parties thrown in her honor. In so many ways Ilsa was much more than just a dog. She was an integral part of our lives and she had a say in most everything we did. Her legacy lives on in our hearts and minds. I will always cherish every moment I had with her.

About the Author

The 1950's were a great time to grow up in America. I enjoyed the things most middle-class kids did; playing sports at the local playground, living in a safe neighborhood, and having a dog. After graduating from high school I went to the University of Michigan. I transferred to North Dakota State University in Fargo and received my Bachelor of Architecture degree, shortly thereafter moving to San Diego to begin a career in architecture. I lost my mother to cancer in 1975, and hoped California would provide the opportunity to get over the loss and find a soul mate. It didn't work out that way. When my sister died of cancer in 1988 (she was 40) I started to re-assess my life. It certainly wasn't what I expected. Dad passed away in 1989 and a year later I decided to return home. When I settled in Fargo I decided to get a dog. My brother inherited a male golden retriever when our sister died. When everything was ready I told him I'd like a pup the next time he bred his dog. On April 7, 1993, Ilsa Axel Rose was born in Pierre, South Dakota. She entered my life on May 30, 1993 and nothing would be the same. Within days my attitude was improving, I wasn't the growly, self-pitying man I had been. As Ilsa grew so did our love. Her sense of devotion was like nothing I had seen. Ilsa was easy to train and very well-behaved, and she went everywhere. Then, in December of 1996, I met a woman who would become my wife. It took a few months for Ilsa to accept Marcy, but when she did the "3 Sweeties" were born. This book is an attempt to chronicle the changes Ilsa brought about in my life and attitude, and it's a story of how a female golden retriever grew into a serene, understanding and loving being while also becoming a world class hunting dog and retriever. Ilsa was able to swim in both oceans, stay in 4-star hotels and gain friends from around the world. She retrieved countless birds during her 15 seasons of hunting. She traveled by private rail car, limousine and horse-drawn carriage. And she completely changed my life. She was the most devoted being I've ever known. She showed me a love that's still hard for me to fully understand. Ilsa Axel Rose truly was the Queen of the Hunting Dogs, and the most important thing in my life for 15 years.