Tag: essay

The Warmth of Dogs

A few years ago while pet sitting for three dogs and three cats I was inspired to write an essay about my connection to pets from an early age. Marilyn, their owner, mentioned I probably wouldn’t see one of the kitties. Millie was very shy and spent most of her time in the basement.
Sitting on the couch a petite tabby cat waltzed up to me, put her paw on my knee asking to be pet. It was Millie! Quickly, I took a picture of her and texted it to Marilyn who replied, “you must be an animal whisper.”
It got me thinking that yes, there has not been a dog or cat that I didn’t connect with over the twenty plus years I’ve staying with pets in their homes.

I wrote about how it all began, my connection to dogs, and how pets continue to bring comfort.

After submitting the essay for a couple of years and several revisions then resubmitting, The Warmth of Dogs has been accepted and published today with Bright Flash Literary Review.

I dedicate this essay to Marilyn: for the seed she planted and her love of animals.

Thank you for reading. I hope you read The Warmth of Dogs (just click on the title)

Millie

Ollie

Tis the Season

Anyone out shopping the Black Friday sales?! You couldn’t pay me to go in a store today. I’m not bah hum bug but I do feel the holidays have gotten out of hand – the consumerism, waste and stress.
The table top tree adorned with mini, multi-colored lights create holiday cheer and peace in my living space each year. That’s about all I need during this season.
If I were still in my daughter’s and grandchildren’s life I’d send them a gift. My favorite Christmas’s were the ones I spent creating as much magic as possible for my child.
I’ve become accustomed to and now prefer a quiet Christmas Day usually dog sitting, a hike with the dog or dogs, reading, writing, maybe a movie. It’s lovely, not lonely.
Last year HerStry published my essay about relationships and gift giving. Check it out. Wisdom Comes With Age.

I hope everyone had a delicious Thanksgiving. I was fully stuffed after attending two different Thanksgiving meals. The day after turkey sandwich always hits the spot!

Love Begets Love

Love begets love.

A couple of days ago, an email from the New York Times appeared with “Your Tiny Love Story!” in the subject line. After submitting three or four times over the last couple of years, with no reply, I got a yes. It’s not easy to capture the love story you want to capture in 100 words.
The editor asked that I get permission from my college sweetheart’s wife, since she is mentioned. His wife, Kim, and I are friends on social media. I took a deep breath, messaged her with a copy of the TLS. Within five minutes, she replied, “Absolutely, what a beautiful love story, Gosh how I miss that man.”
Kim’s generosity was one of the things I wanted to come across in the TLS. The editor saw that. Once again, I am moved by Kim’s open heart.
My heart is full, maybe bigger today. The love for my sweetheart is as strong as it was 40 years ago. Truly, he was the love of my life, one of the healthiest, fun-loving, respectful relationships I’ve had. The demise of our relationship happened after an unfortunate occurrence. That’s another story.
Once he met Kim and married her, all my friends told me how much they like Kim and that I would too. They were right.
I couldn’t be happier that he married a woman as lovely as his wife. I know he was the love of her life too. He was one of a kind. And there is plenty of love to go around.
The Tiny Love Story should be out next week. In March, Huffington Post is publishing another essay of mine. Woohoo. I’ll send links when they come out.

Thanks for reading and keep your heart open.

Me and Tayloe
I still have the watch I’m wearing.
It was a gift from him.

Essay Came Out at Insider

It’s -15 degrees with a wind chill of -30. I’m going nowhere today. Thankful to be in between pet sits for a couple of days at home, snuggling with Brenda the cat. A house mate came home with lots of food from his work (a grocery store) ground beef and spaghetti included. I volunteered to make a pot of spaghetti today. It’s my kind of day; cooking, reading and not going out in the cold.
Tomorrow, temps will start to warm up considerably and I’ll be with a great dog in a great house for the weekend, sharing a meal with a friend on Christmas Eve.

I mainly wanted to share with you, my essay that came out in Insider yesterday.

https://www.insider.com/woman-is-estranged-from-her-only-child-doesnt-celebrate-christmas-2022-12

I do hope you have a peaceful safe holiday.

Thanks for reading.

Redemption

Wendy’s daughter was getting married. We were all invited, all three of us plus the new one. We had all touched her daughter’s life and she wanted us gathered around, outside in beautiful Montana, along with her fun loving friends.

Since we had all been married to her father at different times, he would witness our connection. Three good choices, that ended due to his soon to follow bad choices.

The ceremony was beautiful. We all got to hear her father go on too long about his beautiful, bright daughter, making it all about himself.

Guests dispersed to sitting tables, bathrooms, food and drink tables. The brides grandmother, my ex mother in-law spotted me, grabbed me and insisted I find the other two for a photo opp. Forget that she has once sided with her son (I was the first) during our divorce. The two who followed me  became similar characters in the story of the cheating husband. His mother, then saw her son for the playwright that he was.

Dedicated to my sisters, Wendy and Suzy.