Day: October 23, 2010

I missed the dogs, and I missed Lenore. We have been cuddling, just before she threw up some revolting dead thing she found

in the woods.

When Maria came out of the back door, we heard Lulu and Fanny braying softly from the pasture and when she entered the gate, they both came running down to see her. I can’t relay how many people on the book tour told me they loved the photographs of Maria and the donkeys. They do, I think, capture something powerful, the emotional geography, the special language that exists between animals and the people who love them and are open to them. I love these photos too, and I understand how the donkeys feel. I could not capture the love I feel for Maria in words either.

October 23, 2010 – I got up early to let the dogs out so Maria could sleep and then she got up to feed them and let them in. All four, led by Frieda,rushed upstairs and jumped into bed, although Rose hopped out briefly and watched from a distance. Frieda curled up next to me with her head on my shoulder and whined softly, first, for sure. It was crowded in there, and a bit smelly, but fun.

I sang to Lenore this morning. She enjoyed it.

Maria said she was going to get the camera to take a shot and me and the dogs all bundled up in bed, but I threatened to set fire to her potholders. There was a joyous reunion last night and again this morning, and I never thought I’d be cuddling in bed with Frieda. The housesitter told us that Frieda did leap the fence and land on a neighbor’s dog who had gotten loose, but nobody was hurt, just a lot of noise.

We are tired, happy to be back. I learned a lot on this book tour – I very much like the idea of leaving Izzy at home, and also of rethinking the book tour to make it more informal and more of a conversation and less of a speech. I am always stunned on a book tour to learn that I am a celebrity in some ways, and that is just not the way I see myself. God a day or two off to pay bills, shop, clean up, and focus. Thinking a lot about my approach to health care and I want to write about that. I also want to share my thoughts about the book tour which moves Tuesday to Hadley, Mass:

– 3 p.m., The South Hadley Public Library. No books will be sold or signed there. Just a talk with book lovers and readers and an interview with Joe Rodio of the Library there (he will be taping the interview), the kind of different event.

– This will, I hope lead into the main event, the talk and signing at the famed Odyssey Bookstore in Hadley, at 7 p.m. I will talk, answer questions, and sign books there. Come to either or both if you can. I don’ t think Izzy will be there. So more this afternoon. Got to run to Gardenworks to sign books and get some cheese and food.