The Writing Life

So many things are going on. I don't know which way to turn. Guess I'll just head forward.

As you know, we lost Desi on Wednesday. A local (I mean that in several ways since he came to Sarasota, Florida, from Chicago) writer died on Friday. He was in St. Louis where he had moved for a liver transplant but suffered a stroke which made him ineligible for the transplant. He was past Grand Master of MWA in 2006. I met him at a mystery writer's panel his first year in Sarasota. We bumped into each other several times during the next 20 years. His name was Stuart Kaminsky. I'm sure I've spoken of him here more than a couple of times. He will be missed.

Speaking of Desi (yes, we still are and always will), FM decided yesterday we need another Shepherd. This afternoon we watched "Marley & Me." Then he decided we needed a Lab. He asked me to look up local Labs for adoption. My first dog was a Lab so of course I did. The third dog on the list stopped me. He looked like Izzy's cousin! "This can't be a Lab!" He wasn't. He's a Shepherd/Lab/Retriever mix. He's 9 years old just like Izzy. They have a date next Saturday in Winter Park. If she likes him, she's bringing him home. We're becoming a forever home for dogs whose forever isn't too long. Realistically, neither is ours. The site we found him on had several points wrong. Maybe I should be an interviewer for the site that got it wrong. LOL!

If the world isn't strange enough, FM decided he wants to write a book about Desi. It's not the first time he wanted to write a book. He's had several ideas and always told me I should write it. I always tell him I write my ideas and he writes his ideas. So now he wants me to teach him how to write a book! Wonder how I'll do as a writing coach . . . .

JudyB

I'm so sorry about both your losses.  I think it is important to keep talking about and remembering your lost baby-Desi was a very loved member of your family and its important to respect how very much his loss hurt.  I'm also sorry to hear about your friend.  I'm sure he will be missed and remembered with great affection.

I hope your date with the new doggy goes well.  Good luck with that-I hope it is a good match!

Things change. FM decided not to get the "new" dog. He realized we can't afford him. Besides, he remembered all the things we couldn't do because we had two dogs that we might get away with if we have only one. Happy seemed like such a perfect boy. I hope he gets a good home with a loving family.

FM found a picture of Desi in his phone and printed it out. The next day we was going through the pictures of his elder daughter's wedding and - Lo! - the last photo was Desi lying in our living room. That one is next to my computer right now. We'll frame them both and give them a place of honor.

JudyB

What a rough week! I'm so sorry for your losses. It sounds like you're thinking of all sorts of lovely ways to remember Desi and I'm sure you'll do the same for your friend.

I also hope Happy finds a wonderful home. And I hope Izzy is holding up well.

Thinking of you.

We make a memorial of sorts for our dogs when they leave us. We save their food bowls, collars, tags, and favorite toys. Bruce and Desi have large gift tins and Lucy has a plastic box. They have a mausoleum in the bottom of the linen closet. Nothing else is on the floor of that closet and we pass it several times a day. It's not morbid. It just means they're still with us and will always have a special place in out lives.

Izzy is adapting well to being an only child. She told me that Desi was a bit impatient wanting to take his second daily walk at 9:30. She's fine with 10:30 and thinks he should have been too. Funny that she doesn't mention the walk she wants around midnight. ;-)

As for Stuart Kaminsky, probably the best tribute I could pay to him would be to buy all his books I don't have yet. Until I can bring in some money, though, I'll just read the three I haven't read yet. Since I write more than I read lately, with any luck the timing will work fine.

Thanks for your thoughts, Ada.

JudyB