In very different ways, we do both skew towards questions of mortality - but not too morbidly, I hope. Just… It is kind of always there, in the corner, waiting like Whistler’s Mother, ready to stand suddenly and deliberately to come to collect us. But we can plan and provision. That might be my personal vector. It is here certainly.
Un grand merci pour vos mots chaleureux et gentils. Joie, amour et tristesse : la recette précise d’une vie bien vécue. Avec plusieurs mouchoirs et, bien sûr, des larmes copieuses. C’était la première fois que j’écrivais quelque chose qui approchait ma vie personnelle.
"In Nottingham UK, lace makers kept toy-size bulldogs to chase away rats in their small working quarters." Evidently the French ladies had no such vermin! ;-)
Oh, Lordy! He may not be the prince of peace, but he’ll be the emperor of ice cream and you won’t stop for a cone without getting him whatever the French call a kiddie cup. Be warned that pee, not poop, is the real enemy of carpets. P.S. One more episode of Pluribus to go. “Enjoy” is definitely not the word but we’re glad we watched it.
I tagged you because this was the story I was working on when we spoke. I was really drawn by the deep affection for an animal later in life. The pieces are obviously very different, but I was inspired by your story.
As I wrote Starter Dog, I hoped it would inspire some readers to get a dog, especially readers over 60. So in a way you are my ideal reader. You will love your dog as you have never loved a human, and there will be surprises,
A lot of bucket list details in that bucket, with one furry lump of love so big, so substantial, it almost became the bucket itself. Love feels that way to me, like the container that holds everything else close. Beautiful piece Adam.
Thanks, Kim. My true bucket list is, as my thinly-veiled alter ego explained, pretty modest. Knowing that loved ones that survive me are well-cared for would be #1 with a bullet.
I started reading on Sunday morning, but then someone I know sat next to me staring up, both eyebrows in question position, head slightly cocked right, mouth, in what we call grumbly mouth position, a corner of his lip tucked in . Ok, ok I said, “did you want to go for a walk?” Expression changed to a classic Golden Retriever smile, eyes wide open like I was offering a piece of Vermont Cabot cheddar, seriously sharp. Head now fully cocked right. Give me a moment. He gave me just enough moment to quickly scan comments and read Ben’s.
It is a new day, and time allows my full reading attention . Then I got to this “have-to”, knew it was coming; “We’re going to have a dog.” I am already thinking, better get a box of Kleenex, be prepared, this is Adam’s story, after all.
Wait ,what? A puppy as the first ever dog, at retirement age? Whoa boy. And there it is;
“Your Lord took a shit on the living room carpet.” Yup, they should’ve consulted me first. Oy vey iz mir, as my grandmother would have said. That’s not a bucket list, it is a crystal ball portal into the future . It is a tear maker of grand proportions, a three Kleenex read . It is beautiful, Adam.
“Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love”🎶
Plaintive, practical and quietly heartbreaking. This could be the beginning of a new series for you to rival Chloe’s. Death & Dogs 🐕
In very different ways, we do both skew towards questions of mortality - but not too morbidly, I hope. Just… It is kind of always there, in the corner, waiting like Whistler’s Mother, ready to stand suddenly and deliberately to come to collect us. But we can plan and provision. That might be my personal vector. It is here certainly.
Oh no, Ben. I couldn’t bear it.
I thought about you and your dog writing this, the level of companionship.
A very high compliment, 🙏
no, nor I!!
Un mélange tout doux de vérités possibles et bien plausibles ... joie, amour et tristesse, et tout cela avant même que le Seigneur n'apparaisse !
J'avais besoin de mouchoirs... même plusieurs!
Un grand merci pour vos mots chaleureux et gentils. Joie, amour et tristesse : la recette précise d’une vie bien vécue. Avec plusieurs mouchoirs et, bien sûr, des larmes copieuses. C’était la première fois que j’écrivais quelque chose qui approchait ma vie personnelle.
Cela transparaissait dans chaque mot, que j'ai tous adorés !
Je vais passer à l'anglais...
You will appreciate this trivia I think: this morning I learned that French Bulldogs were bred to accompany French women while they sat knitting lace.
If this is not true, please do not let me know. The whole idea is more French than the French. :-)
"In Nottingham UK, lace makers kept toy-size bulldogs to chase away rats in their small working quarters." Evidently the French ladies had no such vermin! ;-)
Oh, Lordy! He may not be the prince of peace, but he’ll be the emperor of ice cream and you won’t stop for a cone without getting him whatever the French call a kiddie cup. Be warned that pee, not poop, is the real enemy of carpets. P.S. One more episode of Pluribus to go. “Enjoy” is definitely not the word but we’re glad we watched it.
I tagged you because this was the story I was working on when we spoke. I was really drawn by the deep affection for an animal later in life. The pieces are obviously very different, but I was inspired by your story.
As I wrote Starter Dog, I hoped it would inspire some readers to get a dog, especially readers over 60. So in a way you are my ideal reader. You will love your dog as you have never loved a human, and there will be surprises,
I have zero doubt. You inspired me.
Good Lord!
A lot of bucket list details in that bucket, with one furry lump of love so big, so substantial, it almost became the bucket itself. Love feels that way to me, like the container that holds everything else close. Beautiful piece Adam.
Thanks, Kim. My true bucket list is, as my thinly-veiled alter ego explained, pretty modest. Knowing that loved ones that survive me are well-cared for would be #1 with a bullet.
What strikes me is ....I'll think of how to express it...
Thank you, Adam 🩵
Thank you, Chen. You just did. We share several languages.
Moved me with the sense of your life--and Ben Wakeman has a grand idea for you.
Thank you, Mary. Your words always mean a great deal to me.
I started reading on Sunday morning, but then someone I know sat next to me staring up, both eyebrows in question position, head slightly cocked right, mouth, in what we call grumbly mouth position, a corner of his lip tucked in . Ok, ok I said, “did you want to go for a walk?” Expression changed to a classic Golden Retriever smile, eyes wide open like I was offering a piece of Vermont Cabot cheddar, seriously sharp. Head now fully cocked right. Give me a moment. He gave me just enough moment to quickly scan comments and read Ben’s.
It is a new day, and time allows my full reading attention . Then I got to this “have-to”, knew it was coming; “We’re going to have a dog.” I am already thinking, better get a box of Kleenex, be prepared, this is Adam’s story, after all.
Wait ,what? A puppy as the first ever dog, at retirement age? Whoa boy. And there it is;
“Your Lord took a shit on the living room carpet.” Yup, they should’ve consulted me first. Oy vey iz mir, as my grandmother would have said. That’s not a bucket list, it is a crystal ball portal into the future . It is a tear maker of grand proportions, a three Kleenex read . It is beautiful, Adam.
“Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love”🎶
"I am already thinking, better get a box of Kleenex, be prepared, this is Adam’s story, after all."
I am reliably predictable (for now.) Thanks for the kind words (as always.) I want a dog like yours (and Melanie and I are going to have one.)
Always looking forward to ‘feeling‘ something when I read one of your stories.
Seigneur!
Exactement. Merci, commes toujours, Kenneth.
"This is extremely important. She needs to walk him." How very important. So glad she had him.
Me, too, Stephanie. Those two sentences are the hinge of the whole story. It’s a relief to see them called out. 😅
Gave me a quietly sad tummy.
❤️
Sweet beauty.
Thank you, Jeanine.