Surrogates

I’ve always loved Christmas! From the time I was a child through my son’s and daughter’s growing up years, we gathered as a family to pick out the tree and decorate the house. We made Christmas cookies and prepared special meals while singing Christmas carols, and we...

Wait

“Freya, Heathcliff, are you ready?” Keith and I ask our dogs, praising them when they sit. “Wait. Look at me,” we say with words, hand signals and further praise while putting food dishes on the floor in front of them. “Ok, have some.” During dinner, Heathcliff and...

Prayer

In advance of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I decided to read Anne Lamott’s recently released book on faith: Help, Thanks, Wow. The title was a bit off-putting, smacking of Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir Eat, Pray, Love. (I had read that 70% of non-fiction book...

Voting

Earlier today, Keith and I traversed the mountain switchbacks on route 151 south in order to vote at our designated polling location, the Roseland Rescue Squad building next to the local post office. Folks lingered in the parking lot, warmly greeting and chatting with...

Stubbornness

Both of our dogs can be stubborn in their own ways. Even when afraid, Heathcliff tends to obey our commands and loves to go for walks. But sometimes when he sees other dogs, he growls, fusses, whines, pulls on his leash and breaks training in his excitement. Off leash...