Greetings from Kentucky
Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season and a joyous 2013.
The Story of Eddie
This page is dedicated to the memory of Eddie—the happiest, wisest, and most loving creature to have ever touched my life. While snowmobiling with my friend Marilyn, we noticed a small black- and-white dog limping along the side of an icy snow bank. He looked like a silly combination of Snoopy and the RCA Victor dog. But he was in bad shape: malnourished, frostbitten paws, and the look of suffering was evident in his eyes.
I took him home, named him Eddie, and he immediately entered a part of my heart that I never knew existed. There was a connection between Eddie and me that defied explanation, which is saying a lot considering I’ve always loved animals and have been involved in their rescue for many years.
Eddie was infused with a pure essence of love and joy, as most dogs are, yet something about him was different. He not only became my best friend, which would have been more than enough, but over time Eddie became my teacher. He began each morning with wide-eyed wonder, tail thumping and kisses. Then we’d go outside where Eddie would run in a big circle as fast as his legs would go, and then he’d stop, lift his snout and sniff the air. There was no mistaking the gratefulness he felt for his life. Oftentimes I imagined him thinking: Ah, lucky me—one more day to love and be loved, one more day to run and play and eat and nap in a warm pool of sunlight … life is good.
It was Eddie who taught me to close my eyes and let gratefulness fill me—when he stopped and breathed in the air, so did I. And it was Eddie who taught me the value of living in the moment, to be open and authentic and fully awake to the gift that lay before me: one more day to experience something new in this great university called LIFE.
Throughout our earthly journey together, Eddie and I were inseparable. When he passed over to the Rainbow Bridge, I thought I’d never survive it. But over time I’ve come to believe we’ll be together again. I imagine him waiting for me with a tennis ball in his mouth, his tail wagging and his eyes bright with wonder … and gratefulness.
People often ask how many animals I’ve rescued over the years, and truthfully, I’ve lost count. Many I was able to keep, others I found loving homes for, and some were in such bad shape that they didn’t survive. But it would be misleading to say that I rescued Eddie … for all along it was Eddie who rescued me.
Please consider enriching your life by giving an abandoned/abused furbaby a loving and safe home. And if you can, please help support the organizations that are dedicated to this worthy cause. A few that I support are:
Montana Raptor Conservation Center
Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky
International Fund for Animal Welfare
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My New Novel …
So, you’ve asked what my new novel is about. Well, I’m not going to tell … not exactly. But I thought I’d give you a hint.
Imagine a farm tucked up against the mysterious and beautiful Red River Gorge in Kentucky …
Imagine simple, uncomplicated lives: Acres of corn ripening in the sun, laundry flapping on the line, a plain tin mailbox stained with a bit of rust. A working farm where stacks of cordwood stand five feet high and dandelions dot the shady front lawn.
There is a young boy …
And his older sister.
They share their dreams in a secret place.
The boy dreams of a red-tailed hawk.
The girl dreams of old furniture and of one day owning her own shop …
They are children. They believe.
They grow up.
Some of their dreams come true …
Some don’t.
That is the way life is.
But things happen …
Remarkable things.
And nobody will ever be the same …
Or will they?
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt wins Howard County Reads 2012 favorite book!
I’m incredibly honored: Howard County (Indiana) book lovers nominated their favorite books, and a committee reviewed those books and chose “Saving CeeCee Honeycutt” as the #1 book for Howard County Reads 2012. And to make this award even brighter, I have been invited to speak at the Indiana University Kokomo Havens Auditorium on Friday, October 19th. The event begins at 7:00 pm and the tickets are free, but you must obtain one to attend.
Tickets can be picked up beginning September 1st at any KHCPL location, the Greentown Public Library, or the IUK Library.
More info can be found by clicking this link.
This will be a fun event and I can’t wait to meet everyone!
And here’s another surprise: CeeCee, Oletta, Aunt Tootie, and all the gals of Savannah have inspired the Howard County Reads committee to host a trip to Savannah! Yes, you read that right … and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The trip is planned for Thursday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Oct. 28. You can have a blast and travel with the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library and Greentown Public Library on a chartered bus to historic Savannah and enjoy the charm of the South.
If the moonlight is just right, you might even see Thelma Rae Goodpepper bathing in her outdoor bathtub!
Click HERE or more information on the tour.
Closed for the writing season …
Though I love featuring interesting folks here in the Brava and Bravo section of my blog, I’ve found that I can no longer keep up with the time it requires. Writing full-time is taking all the energy I have, and many things have had to give. Sadly, the upkeep of this category is one of them. There are many fascinating profiles here, so please cruise through and enjoy!