When I Am Old

God shines down on our Clarence during his last days with us.

I received this from a friend... it's just lovely XO.

When I am old...
I will wear soft gray sweatshirts...
and a bandana over my silver hair...
and I will spend my social security checks on my dogs.

I will sit in my house on my well-worn chair
and listen to my dogs breathing.
I will sneak out in the middle of a warm summer night
and take my dogs for a run, if my old bones will allow...

When people come to call, I will smile and nod
as I show them my dogs...
and talk of them and about them...
...the ones so beloved of the past
and the ones so beloved of today...

I will still work hard cleaning after them,
mopping and feeding them and whispering their names
in a soft loving way.
I will wear the gleaming sweat on my throat,
like a jewel, and I will be an embarrassment to all...
especially my family...
who have not yet found the peace in being free
to have dogs as your best friends...

These friends who always wait, at any hour, for your footfall...
and eagerly jump to their feet out of a sound sleep,
to greet you as if you are a God,
with warm eyes full of adoring love and hope
that you will always stay,

I'll hug their big strong necks...
I'll kiss their dear sweet heads...
and whisper in their very special company....

I look in the mirror... and see I am getting old....
this is the kind of person I am...
and have always been.

Loving dogs is easy, they are part of me.

Please accept me for who I am.
My dogs appreciate my presence in their lives...
they love my presence in their lives...

When I am old this will be important to me...
you will understand when you are old,
if you have dogs to love too.

-Author Unknown

Reader's Choice Awards Nomination by TCK Publishing

I continue to give myself a pinch every time I look at my published book or hold it in my hands. Having never thought of myself as a writer let alone a published author, my book, Hogan's Hope, is a "dream come true." My "dream" now is that his message of hope for anyone to live a full and successful life can be spread to everyone and I work to share his purpose and legacy.

Hogan's Hope: A Deaf Hero's Inspirational Quest for Love and Acceptance has been nominated in the General Non-Fiction Category and needs everyone's vote! So please click on the logo above, go over to the 5th page (General Non-Fiction), and scroll down to Hogan's Hope.

When we rescued Hogan in 1993 at the age of 18 months, almost all deaf dogs were being destroyed, mistreated, or abandoned. Hogan's is a tale of a deaf dog who prevailed as he learned over sixty -five signs in American Sign Language. His ability and tenacity provided the hope of life for many deaf dogs worldwide and his courage to overcome challenges and prejudice continue today to give inspiration to anyone, human or pet, that accomplishment, success and genuine love are truly possible. He overcame all the myths.

We adopted Hogan as a deaf, malnourished puppy whose early abuse made him wary of new situations and locked him in a world of silence. Being teachers in the public school system, we quickly decided that teaching Hogan sign language would be the cornerstone of communicating with him. Gradually he learned to trust us and became confident in relating to new people, other animals, and unknown circumstances. Little did we know that Hogan's story would lead to numerous requests for interviews, news stories, and public appearances. Some of these programs included Oprah Winfrey, Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures, Dateline with Dennis Murphy, Positively Connecticut with Diane Smith, Amazing Tails, and Good Morning America. Two separate radio interviews to Japan began the international buzz that deaf dogs are intelligent, do learn, can lead completely normal lives, are loving, and make wonderful family members.

Through his lifetime of determination, Hogan's journey offers the promise that we all are capable of achieving an amazingly "ordinary" life and a life away from isolation. His tale of valor reveals that dreams do come true and offers insight into the world of true faith unconditional love and endless hope. 

"Once you choose hope, anything is possible."     -Christopher Reeve

Please help us with your vote. Thank you in advance for your support and encouragement.