“My fashion philosophy is, if you’re not covered in dog hair, your life is empty.”
— Elayne Boosler
Dog walks. Aren’t they a wonderful gift? Time to reflect, enjoy nature, and observe your dog having a great time. I love how they look around, closely study their surroundings, like everything they can see or smell is “brand new.” Autumn is especially nice. Dogs seem to love cooler weather; that’s when ours really come to life.
“I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.” —Doris Day
We’ve had four schnauzers: Noah, Orion, Hannah, Georgia. Individuals, yet, “schnauzerly.” When I wrote about them in my memoir, A HAPPY TRUTH–Last Dogs Aren’t Always Last, I tried to convey how much they have contributed to our quality of life. It’s true. There is something so warm and genuine about a dog’s spirit–something that most of us are drawn to. And even though they may wonder about us, even find us rather dull and boring, they tolerate us with patience and understanding. Or so it seems. This quote from Steinbeck is so funny, though. And maybe he’s right! What do you think?
“I’ve seen a look in dogs’ eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.” — John Steinbeck
When Hannah was a puppy she loved to pick up a stick to carry around as we walked. Of course we’ve read that this can be dangerous should a dog have an accident with a stick, and eventually, she quit picking them up. But walking her as a puppy in all the autumn leaves was actually a poetic experience.
See for yourself …
Hannah inspired A HAPPY TRUTH.
If you think this is your kind of book, here are a few more details …
- “Certain of a far deeper story that poetically reveals priorities and values and truth, I knew this was the sweet spot for inspired decision-making.” — D.A. Hickman
Do we really know how we make important decisions? Or do they seem to happen without much thought at all? As I wrote A Happy Truth, I explored the nature of decisions and decision-making, especially in regard to the dogs and cats we love. A fascinating, illuminating terrain, I know you’ll be amused and intrigued by my six endearing characters of the four-legged variety. More specifically, you’ll meet four spirited schnauzers and two white cats. As you get to know each one–how their presence in our lives inspired this book–you’ll likely find yourself remembering, with great fondness, the dogs, the cats, you’ve loved along the way. You may feel blissfully philosophical about your journey with them, or you may come to realize, in a more pronounced way, the incredible contribution they make and have made to your quality of life. To the sense of well-being and joy that comes from simply observing them, interacting with them, and appreciating the comfort they give you on a cloudy day. Eventually, though, losing our beloved pets is one of the hardest parts of this wonderful bonding experience. But when we invite them into our homes–begin to know and love them–we also agree to stick by them until the bitter end. Saying goodbye, however, leads to deep sadness, and finding the courage to love again may not feel easy or even desirable. You may come up short. You may drum up all kinds of excuses and reasons to delay. It may feel impossible to make a conscious, proactive decision. Maybe a dog, a cat, will just find me. One day, though, you may finally surprise yourself; you may say “yes” and never look back.
- A HAPPY TRUTH is a hopeful book about knowing ourselves well enough to make decisions that bring us joy. Pets hold the key to unlocking the human spirit. They remind us to stop worrying–especially about the next pet. Watching a sleeping animal, we know our worries are mostly in vain. We know the real story is about love. And that’s a very happy truth. — D.A. (Daisy) Hickman, poet and memoirist
“Watching Zucca as he trots along the sidewalk, stopping here and there to sniff and scratch, I know his time with us is limited. A harsh certainty that fills me with an unbearable sorrow. However, I’m buoyed by Daisy’s story of four spirited dogs and two clever cats, and know that when that time comes, I will seek her guidance again within the covers of this heartwarming book. For now, though, I will treasure each tender moment with Zucca, while happily giving thanks for the barboncino in miniatura who unexpectedly chose us one quiet afternoon in Genoa.” ―Susan Pohlman, author of Halfway to Each Other: How a Year in Italy Brought Our Family Home
Daisy Hickman offers a conscious approach to understanding the human connection with dogs and cats and urges us to be aware of the faithful affection they share with us. Sifting through the world of literature to share the resonance that others have felt for animals throughout the ages, we learn the author is a keen observer of social intelligence and the best sort of human who is grateful for the magic, warmth, and happiness of animals. – Jacqueline Sheehan, NYT bestselling novelist, author of Lost and Found
- So as the leaves begin to drop, take your dog/s for a nice long walk. It’s sure to inspire. Let the experience remind you of your younger days when you wanted nothing more than to have a dog to walk, a dog to nap with and play with.
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.”
― Milan Kundera
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