Monday, September 7, 2009
THE NEXT CHAPTER
This morning I was pouring milk on my cereal and I was stopped cold in mid-pour. There, on the side of the milk carton was my picture.
Apparently, I’m a Missing Person.
I didn’t intend to disappear after my dog died, but there’s something addictive about spending time alone and meditating, and suddenly two months flew by. I didn’t even know I was missing till I read about it on Facebook.
Sorry to worry you. I’d have thought you had plenty of other things to worry about. Health care reform, the rising tide of unemployment, the fiscal apocalypse, who will fill Paula Abdul’s shoes on American Idol… but apparently more than a few of you were wondering whatever happened to that old dude who writes those murder books.
For starters, my wife and I spent a week in the Caribbean. If you’re going to walk around moping over the loss of your dog, the Turks and Caicos Islands are a damn fine place to do it. The sun, the ocean, and the spa at the Grace Bay Club have a lot of healing power. And because it was the last week in July, I was healing at low, low off-season prices.
On August 1 I came back to New York and dove into the final set of revisions on Lomax and Biggs Number Four. While I was working on the book, my wife was working on me. Her mission: convince me I was ready for another dog.
I reminded her that I was scheduled for knee surgery on September 10, and a new dog was out of the question. And then something wonderful happened. The physical therapy started working, and my knee went from barely functioning to the official medical prognosis of “damn good for his age.”
Surgery postponed for a year. Maybe more.
No longer faced with five days in the hospital, weeks of mind-addling painkillers and months of hobbling around, I called Kyle Warren, the dog trainer who has worked with me and Jett for seven years. The formal training ended years ago, but we’d go to dog socialization class every Thursday. There’s not much training, but it’s a real good excuse to run around and poop on the mountain trails.
A week later Kyle called. He found a perfect candidate.
She’s a Lab mix, about seven months old, who was rescued in South Carolina, then transported to the Lab Rescue of The Hudson Valley in New York. Kyle went to the shelter and interviewed her for an hour. Then I went for another hour. After two minutes of getting my face licked I was ready.
I went through the usual torrent of dog names. The only criteria were that it had to be a girl’s name and it had to have a connection to Jett. So I named her Kylie in honor of the man who will have trained them both.
Kylie is part Labrador Retriever and part sperm donor. The vet thinks that the anonymous father was probably some kind of hound dog. (Isn’t that what us humans call guys who love ‘em and leave ‘em?) And like most puppies, she’s full of piss and vinegar. A lot of that piss is on the rug in my office.
Thanks for the many emails, and for the concerned shout outs when I went MIA. I’m back and I’m busy. I’m just finishing the final revises on CUT, PASTE, KILL, the next Lomax and Biggs book, to be released in May. And I’m starting my next book — which is totally different from anything I’ve done so far.
And, of course, I’m teaching Kylie to sit, stay, fetch, and not pee on the floor — the same basic commands my wife is still trying to teach me.
I’d love to hear from you. What did you guys do this summer?
Kylie is beautiful! Glad you're back. You were missed!
Jan posted on September 7, 2009 10:00 PMawwwww. Hi Kylie!
She looks very wise and compassionate.
Kylie is beautiful! What a sweet looking pup. When I lost my 13 year old Micki, I waited two years until John Fried brought in one of his Retriever pups to my store. Although Micki was a mutt, John's pup looked so much like Micki. I wanted a female from his next litter and she had to be blonde. I was looking for Micki actually. In many ways, I found her in Rosie. All the best wishes for you and Kylie Marshall. She's absolutely adorable.
Maureen
Welcome back. Missed you dearly. Just said so today (in - ahem - not so many words) to Sarah.
I sure hope you took that photo of Kylie, because she looks like she adores the photographer. She looks like a charmer. Congratulations and good luck :-)
Harmzie posted on September 7, 2009 11:26 PMKylie is gorgeous. So glad she found her way to you.
Also, so glad to hear surgery has been postponed.
Welcome back!
Shelly posted on September 8, 2009 9:53 AMBest of luck with your new friend, Marshall! She is beautiful. :)
Gina posted on September 8, 2009 10:57 AMHoly heck she's beautiful. We have cats, and have had one pass away, so I understand how that works. In place of the one that passed, we adopted one who was rescued from a house with 90 other cats; he was one of the survivors.
May is too long; I'll give you a hundred bucks for an ebook in October.
Curmudgeon posted on September 8, 2009 4:18 PMSO glad you're back! Every time I'd see your blog name in my reader all gray, I'd wonder what you'd been up to. I'm so happy about the new dog!!
I got a new dog too!! http://justmeandthevoices.com/2009/08/24/rescue-mission-de-briefing/
My first dog, actually, and I'm loving it!
Suzy Voices posted on September 8, 2009 6:03 PMHi! I am so glad you are back. I wanted to email you and bug you, but knowing what a busy author guy you are--I let you have your space. :)
I have to say, the line about an excuse to run around and poop on the mountain, I could so see a whole bunch of dogs running and their people dropping drawers and squatting.
The Vacation, sounds like one of my dream trips. So, glad you enjoyed yourself.
I only had 5 days to close one school year and open the next. I long for 9 month school.....
The oldest is transitioning to Middle school and she is not adjusting well. That's what happens in inner-city schools. Really thinking about re-locating to the country with the rest of the red-neck family.
Missed you! Adore you! Have a great day!
debb posted on September 9, 2009 1:25 PMI'm glad to see that the milk carton picture worked. And since I now know who will fill Puala's dancing shoes, got a handle on the health care reform questions, unemployment - geesh (been unemployed for a few years - it's called retirement) but it looks like we need to get Kyle working on the economy - he did a great job finding you another "best friend", I needed to see how my favorite author "spent his summer vacation". It's good to see you back blogging.
And I'd up that $100 ante, not to have to wait A Whole Year to read the next adventures of Lomax and Biggs.
Oh well, if I Have To Wait --- just keep writing your blogs, they help in the down time. Missed you and give that adorable pouch an extra smooch from your fan.
oh yeah!! she looks so wonderful! I am so glad to have had a hand in her finding you and you finding you again!
Marshall, She is beautiful! Looks like my Zoey a bit. I fell in love with her when she first came into our rescue and if it hadn't been for 4 at home she just might have joined our gang. How come I haven't seen her at SAH yet? Miss seeing at the hospital. Bring her in even just for a visit and make sure it is a Friday afternoon or Saturday when I am there. Good luck with her!
Deb (from SAH)