The author Jon Katz writes about the Spirit Dog, a dog that comes into your life when you need it.
Stella was and is a Spirit Dog. She was entrusted to me by people who must have found it difficult to let go of her, yet did let go. Stella and I worked through some challenges, I found purpose and gumption in guiding, training her. We did a lot of work and learned a great deal. We’ve been on quite a journey, which hasn’t ended.
This the title of Jon Katz’ latest book, published last Tuesday. The theme – second chances, redemption, finding love – is deeply appealing so I ordered the book from Battenkill Books, a great small book store in Cambridge NY.
I’ve had the good fortune to browse and buy at Battenkill, which is Mr. Katz’ local bookstore – he lives just outside Cambridge. I deliberately chose to buy there because it’s a great bookstore, it’s a local business (not local to me, true, yet still local.
Called the store a sort time ago to place my order. Mr Katz and is wife Maria are signing all copies ordered at Battenkill. When asked how I wanted it signed I replied ‘However he wishes’ at which point the phone was handed to Jon Katz.
We chatted for a few minutes. He thanked me for ordering the book and doing so through a small bookstore. I never considered otherwise.
Can’t wait to read it.
A blog I look forward to reading
I avidly follow Jon Katz’ blog at Bedlam Farm. He is a writer who lives on a farm and writes about dogs, cats, his farm, his ‘ex-girlfriend’ (now wife) Maria, life, donkeys, the changing world of writing and publishing, and many other things.
I first heard of him about ten years ago when I read his book A Dog Year, which inspired me to adopt Stella, my ACDx. Owning her has been a challenging, rewarding experience that gave me purpose during a difficult time and continues to enrich my life.
Some of Mr Katz’ views, particularly on dogs, our relationship to and with them, and what he describes as [my word, not his] veneration of them are controversial among many dog owners. His views make sense to me – my, our, dogs are are not my furbabies, my furkids. They are my dogs. Beloved companions, yes. I miss them after being away for several days. I shed tears when the time comes to let go of one and sometimes I do the same when remembering Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Rex, BoJo. But they are not humans in fur suits. they are dogs and it is our responsibility to help them live in our world, which is quite often not accommodating to their dogness, their need to roll in and eat gross stuff, to poop and pee and sniff butts, to do what dogs do.
I like what he writes about change and adaptability. He does not whine about how the world of the writer has changed. He has adapted to the fact that a writer on his level no longer can count on sales of and royalties on paper books for his income. He writes e-books, he asks (yet not requires) blog readers to pay a fee – which I do. We don’t necessarily have to like or embrace change but it is good to be adaptable.
He also writes about the real world around him and Maria. His farm and the animals, rural landscapes and rural life and the people in it. He writes little about Politics and Current Events and The World In Crisis, which I and anyone can find elsewhere. I find his blog to be refreshing, calming, a place to find peace and goodness.
I encourage you to visit.
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