A few years have past since Rocky and Mati passed - and in the Fall of 2016 Rocky (yes, same name) came to me needing a home. After being in contact with Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, I was undecided. After visiting with several fosters thru meet-and-greets, I just wanted to take them all home. Clearly this was not going to be an easy decision. Then, a foster parent called me and thought I should meet "Rocky" - a newly surrendered GSD that came to him. It was a kind-of chilling moment. I thought it was a little bit more than interesting he had the same name as Rocky-I. Anyhow, we met, and chilling moment #2...he was virtually the identical image of Rocky-I - when he was young - same shape, size, color. Given all the shepherds I saw with Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, no two looked alike. I was asked if I wanted to take Rocky home for an overnight stay. It wasn't the whole day, nor hours, but maybe minutes after getting home that Rocky said "I'm home Dad" and made himself comfortable. It was a little chilling. The next day the foster parent asked me how things were going. I simply replied "I think he's home". It was set, paperwork would follow but before I got off the phone, I said "By the way, I know he's almost a year old, but do you know when his birthday is?" He replied "it's on the paperwork I have here - yes, it's 15-November." Chilling moment number 3....Well that's interesting, that's my birthday. Rocky acted as if he was home and there wasn't a moment of anxiety or trouble. We walked to Mount Vernon Alexandria, and I introduced him to the neighborhood. When Rocky joined me, he had very little training. Sit, Stay, Come... were all foreign to him. He was just a goof. On one rainy day, I was drying his feet with a towel, and instinctively I said "TURN" so I could get the other feet... and he pivoted, making a 180-degree turn. Shocking and Chilling moment number 4. I didn't teach him that - but I did teach Rocky-I that maneuver. Well anyhow, it's now been almost 4 years with Rocky and I thought it might be time to start up the GSD-Life Blog! I hope you are all well! - Love Mike and Rocky