“The Art of Racing in the Rain”

The above titled novel by Garth Stein was recommended to me by my friend Janice shortly after the book was published in 2008. A dog-lover to the core, Janice loved all dogs, believing that there was no greater love on earth than that of a puppy you have raised. “Children grow up and they don’t really need you after a while, but a dog needs you till the day they die.”

The main character in “...Racing in The Rain” is Enzo, raised and loved by his race-car driving owner. The entire novel is told from Enzo’s point of view, and a movie is soon to be released based on this best-selling book.  Enzo believed in an ancient legend that a dog who is wise and prepared will be reincarnated as a human in his next life. So Enzo becomes wise, and prepared... and the ending is a tear-jerking surprise.

I have read that book twice, and I will read it again as soon as I finish the novel I am currently reading.  I spoke to Janice last week, and we laughed about my dog Savannah who hides under a blanket when she hears a loud noise. I sent a photo to Janice, showing the dark spot of Savannah’s nose peeking out from under her security blanket. I was going to call Janice this week, to tell her about the upcoming movie based on Stein’s extraordinary book.

Janice passed away a day ago. Alone in her apartment, sitting in her favorite reading chair. Her daughter-in-law called last night to tell me that she will be buried in Louisiana near her parents. She was a wonderfully well-read lady, classy and classic, with a southern sense of humor that could make you laugh till you cried. Janice was also a talented artist and she gifted us with a painting of this big old house shortly after we moved here.

I have no doubt that if reincarnation is indeed possible, Janice will be coming back on this Earth as a little dog because this truly gifted woman was indeed wise, and thoughtfully, prayerfully prepared.

Another month...

Why is it that the days just disappear? Days and weeks and months, and before you know it, you are turning over a new calendar page. Sometimes it feels like advancing from age sixteen to age sixty takes just a minute. Life goes on, whether you are paying attention or not. Lately, we have all been paying attention here.

Within this last week, one of our dear friends and neighbors passed away. He had not been feeling well for months, going to doctor after doctor to describe symptoms and get opinions. Each doctor had a different theory, various medications, limitless advice. For the last month, J’s symptoms got worse... more doctors, more tests and scans... more medications and their side effects. One of the last scans given to him showed a cancerous tumor in his lung... it had already spread and was very aggressive... Stage 4 cancer. The man never smoked. But he was in the Army years ago, in Vietnam at the time Agent Orange was being used. 

This friend was very helpful to us when we moved out here to the hills. He was the first person we called in an emergency. Growing up as a country boy in Texas, he always knew what to do or who to call or how to fix the problem. He was my go-to guy when my husband was out of town and something went wrong in the house or on the property.  And he did the same for all of the neighbors. We are all lost, as is, first and foremost, his wife, his children, his grandchildren. If J could have made a pact with the universe to keep him here on this planet for his wife and his family, he would have done just that.

We are all so sad in this tiny community of homes. And life goes on.