I lost another dear friend last week. After he was laid to rest, my thoughts ran to what all I should have done while he was still here. I should have gone to that conference we all attend so that I could have caught up with him and our other friends. I should have emailed or called him more often. When we were together, I should have paid more attention … the list goes on.

Too often, my work and the everyday of my life take control. When friends say, “Let’s go to lunch,” I don’t always go. When I have opportunities to smell the roses, I sometimes keep on walking. So, my question is, “Why do I do that?” Will I take my work and the everyday with me when I pass on? No. Remember the scene in Ghost when Patrick Swayze tells Demi Moore that “The love inside, you take it with you.” And, that’s all you take. So where am I going with this? I’ve never forgotten Robert Herrick’s poem that I read in college.

GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
    Old time is still a-flying :
And this same flower that smiles to-day
    To-morrow will be dying.

Now, granted, Herrick wrote this playful poem to virgins. But it has all kinds of interpretations. For me, it means simply to live each day to the fullest. Live it as if it is your last. It may be. Don’t pass the opportunities to be with friends and loved ones because you let the everyday “stuff” prevent you from taking time to smell the roses when it is important.

Til next time,

Carol

Last week, when I selected my all-tine favorite dogs in books and movies, I made an unforgiveable omission.

When I was a young child, my mother bought me a book by (Margaret) Marshall Saunders entitled, Beautiful Joe. It was the book, along with Black Beauty, that made me aware of animal abuse. I have been a life-long animal lover ever since reading those two books, and they are partly the reason that I became so heavily involved in dog rescue and fostering.

Beautiful Joe was an actual dog from the town of Meaford, Ontario, whose story inspired the bestselling 1893 novel Beautiful Joe, which contributed to worldwide awareness of animal cruelty.

Often described as a mutt or a mixed breed, he was originally owned by a  man, who abused him to the point of near death, and even cut off his ears and tail. Walter Moore, father of Louise Moore, rescued the dog in 1890 from what likely would have been a violent death. In 1892, Margaret Marshall Saunders (1861-1947), first learned about Beautiful Joe when she visited her brother and his wife, Louise Moore. Saunders was so touched by Joe's story that she wrote a novel-length, fictionalized, autobiographical version of it, entitled Beautiful Joe. Saunders relocated the story’s setting and changed the family's name to Morris to win a literary contest sponsored by the American Humane Education Society.

To quote Amazon.com, “The book was first published in 1893. Both the book and its subject received worldwide attention. It was the first Canadian book in history to sell over a million copies, and by the late 1930s had sold over 7 million copies worldwide. Saunders did not avoid comparison of her work to the similarly-themed Black Beauty. Indeed, she makes reference to Black Beauty in the very first page of Beautiful Joe, not referring to it by name but writing [from Joe's viewpoint] ‘I have seen my mistress laughing and crying over a little book that she says is a story of a horse's life.’ Joe goes on to say that he will write the story of a dog's life, to similarly please his owner. Thus, within the context of the book at least, Beautiful Joe is directly inspired by Black Beauty.”

And, there you have it. If you love animals, especially dogs, read this book. Yes, you will cry and be horrified by the cruelty that humans inflict on innocent creatures. But, don’t stick your head in the sand. It takes very little effort to help creatures who can’t help themselves. Think about not tolerating animal cruelty, and get involved to stop it when you see it. As Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Til next time,

Carol

Four years ago, I started writing from the heart of a dog’s eyes. Over the  years, so many wonderful canines in real life and in fiction have influenced my love and respect for dogs. I have ranked and listed my all-time favorites below. They have all contributed in one way or another to how I capture them in my books.

#1 SKIP

The true story of a dog who changed a boy’s life. No other dog story has touched me like this one. I defy you to read it and not love it.

#2 ENZO

I had already written Luke’s Tale when I read this book, but it was a profound discovery for me and got me to thinking a lot about reincarnation!

#3 MARLEY

This is a heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life. It was key to my realizing how dogs can show us the way.

#4 LASSIE

I grew up loving Lassie, Joe’s prize collie and constant companion. But when Joe’s father loses his job, Lassie must be sold. Three times she escapes from her new owner, and three times she returns home to Joe, until finally she is taken to the remotest part of Scotland—too far a journey for any dog to make alone . . . But Lassie is not just any dog. And, that’s why it is important to me to make my dogs special.

#5 RIN TIN TIN

There are lots of books about famous historical dogs, but Susan Orlean’s Rin Tin Tin is a great place to start. This legendary German Shepherd had a more exciting life than most humans, from his humble beginnings on a WWI battlefield to his international stardom. Again, I grew up with Rin Tin Tin, and he indeed is a role model dog.

#6 BEETHOVEN

An adorable puppy named Beethoven wins the heart of George Newton and his family - only to grow up into 185 pounds of romping, drooling, disaster-prone St. Bernard! The sometimes aggravating but always loveable Beethoven brings a family together. Why is he on my list? Because my twin grandsons, Diesel and Slater, love Beethoven, and it is our special movie together.

Do you have a favorite list? If so, share it with me.

Til Next Time,

Carol

My daughter’s latest blog (http://www.snmckibben.com/2/post/2013/12/would-you-let-your-daughter-date-a-demon.html) showcased the “protagonist” in her up-and-coming novel, Triad.

It got me to thinking about the protagonist of my upcoming episodic series, Snow Blood. Stephanie’s protagonist is a demon. Mine too. Snow Blood, however, was created a demon out of circumstances beyond his control. Which leads me to the question: If you were forced into a situation where you had to perform uncharacteristic acts just to survive, would you?

As we begin a new year, how do your current circumstances shape your image? No matter what your circumstances, consider how your actions will affect others. Don’t let attributes like loyalty, trust and friendship slide by the wayside. In a world full of demons, life is harsh. Many would say that our world is filled with demons and that our lives are harsh. Often, that gives people license to behave other than normal. But don’t.

Snow Blood became something other than himself, but he never lost his ability to love, be loyal, to trust and to give friendship. Leave it to a dog to set the right example.

May your New Year be filled with friendship, love, trust and loyalty.
Til next time,
Carol