|
Reality Sinks In
Monday, February 12, 2007
My last day as a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist was Friday, Feb. 2. The week that followed felt more like vacation than a brave new beginning. I passed the week quite nicely catching up on long-ignored paperwork, clearing brush out in the woods, taking walks, sampling draft beers from the local watering holes and -- yes, I'll admit it -- copping a few mid-afternoon naps in the winter sunlight streaming into our family room, usually after the beers. Funny how that works.
I also spent a good part of the week reading (and trying to answer as many as possible) farewell emails from Inquirer readers. My supervisor at The Inquirer, at my request, made arrangements to keep my work email up and running for a while so I could receive messages that came in after my final column.
(You can read it at http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/16602374.htm .)
Like I said, life didn't seem much different. As a columnist, I would check my work email daily -- no, make that several times a day -- even when I was on vacation. Even when I was out of the country. So as long as I could continue emailing back and forth with readers, it seemed like the status quo. That all changed this past Friday, Feb. 9, one week after cleaning out my desk, when I went to log on to check my Inquirer email as usual. My password was no longer valid. My account had been closed. That's when it finally seemed real. "Holy cow," I thought, "this is it; this isn't pretend. I'm no longer a columnist. I'm no longer employed by The Inquirer, or by anyone, for that matter."
It was at once exhilirating and just a little scary. With the exception of a one-year stint in graduate school twenty years ago, this is my first time since I started my first newspaper job in 1979 that I have not had a full-time hourly job. My friend Dan has been razzing me relentlessly about my new life now that I'm no longer, as he puts it, "workin' for Da Man." He pictures me spending my days in my bathrobe watching soap operas and eating Oreos. That is so far off the mark, it's not even funny. As anyone who knows me will attest, I'm strictly a Chips Ahoy kind of guy.
I also have more than enough work to keep me from getting bored. Between writing projects and speaking invitations and an upcoming publicity tour for my forthcoming children's book, "Bad Dog, Marley!", which is due out in May, I don't anticipate too much free time for sitting around with the remote. Also in May, a young-reader edition of Marley & Me, titled "Marley, A Dog Like No Other," will be released, and I will be traveling around promoting that as well.
At any rate, onward. To the beer store! No, I mean, to new adventures! Yeah, that's it...
See you over on the marleyandme.com message boards.
Cheers,
John
posted by John Grogan at 5:28 AM
 
19 Comments:
<< Home
Previous Posts
|
|
|
Wow! Life changes are huge. But maybe now your friends at marleyandme will get to benefit from your journalistic energy?? We can only hope.
I look forward to your upcoming releases and still plan on meeting you one of these days at one of your booksignings! I'm constantly checking to see when you might be in the northeast.
On a more personal note Mr. Grogan, the real reason I read your blogs on marleyandme is that you are quite simply a first rate human being. Your book drew me in and it is your kindness and sense of humor that keep me coming back.
Thank you. And, please, keep in touch!
Larissa Cardone, Lake George, NY
Hi John. I'm writing from a far away land of Australia. I bought your book last weekend and quite simply couldn't put it down. I was so swept by your journey that I couldn't help reading Marley's hilarious antic out loud, in bed to my partner. I was an utter mush from page 271 till the end. Your story have touched me tremendously and be assured that Marley will live on in my heart and everyone who have the privilege of reading about him through your amazing words.
All the best to the future and I hope you will get a chance to come down to Australia. I've decided to put your book on the top of my gift list for 2007 for all my friends.
:) hellO! wow, i am so excited i actually get to leave a message to you. The other day i was at my cousin's house and as usual she had a whole bunch of books to introduce to me. And yours was her top recommendation, "read this, you'll laught and cry till the last page." i was skeptical but she was right! you are an amazing writer. The book i am reading is in Chinese and my cousin got it from Taiwan, i am sure you know this already, but you are a big hit there as well. There are some things that are univeral, Marley's love for life and your family touches everybody's heart across the world... bravo :)
Hi john! I'm a thirteen-years boy from Brazil, so, if my message is wrong and you cannot understand what is written, I understand you :). I finished reading your book last week, and only now I found your blog :)....(It seems that I'm not very smart,hahaha)
I wanted to tell you I loved Marley and your family's history... that is so funny! :D... that also touched me deeply.
I hope you, your wife, Conor, Patrick, Colleen, Gracie (and your chickens :D) are very happy!
Thank you for being the great writer that you are...
Victor M. Miranda, Curitiba, Brazil
Where are you and your family going John? Where are you moving to now?
Hi John.
I’m brazilian, and my english it’s too bad. I don’t know how to write in English correctly, but I’ll try.
I love your book. Your writing touched me deeply.
I read all your book in one day.
I always love animals, I have a lot of them in my house: 4 dogs and 5 cats. I don’t know how to survive without them.
Maybe I can’t write here, all the fellings that I had reading your book, but I just love it. I loved the way that you describe your wife, your kids, and especially, Marley.
I’ll study a little bit of the English Language and try to write a better note for you! ;)
Congratulations! Your book was the best book that I’ve ever read!
Hellen
Greetings John
I just finished your book...God knows how many times I cried in the end... You don't know how Marley resembles our dog Reury..I think he is even worst, but in our situation we had to move from Brazil to US, and our lack of time (both me and my wife Ellen are graduate students)maded impossible his move with us...God knows how I miss that darn dog...and how we laugh a lot about his way of life..deep inside they are a big part of us!!!! I wish for you and you family the best, and I sadlly cheer for you new status as a ex-inquirer collunist...changes are hard and sometime we regret for it. Just keep in mind that the only thing that really matters those related to the heart!!!!thanks for sharing the best of your life with us....
Bruno de Souza, Morgantown, WV
Greetings John
I just finished your book...God knows how many times I cried in the end... You don't know how Marley resembles our dog Reury..I think he is even worst, but in our situation we had to move from Brazil to US, and our lack of time (both me and my wife Ellen are graduate students)maded impossible his move with us...God knows how I miss that darn dog...and how we laugh a lot about his way of life..deep inside they are a big part of us!!!! I wish for you and you family the best, and I sadlly cheer for you new status as a ex-inquirer collunist...changes are hard and sometime we regret for it. Just keep in mind that the only thing that really matters those related to the heart!!!!thanks for sharing the best of your life with us....
Bruno de Souza, Morgantown, WV
Greetings, again John.
Life really gives many circles thoughout our existences, huh? Although I try to enjoy changes the most, sometimes they bother me, too. Isn't it weird when you are used to a routine and that suddenly changed? Well, at least your life didn't change for nothing. You passed us an amazing story about an amzing dog and we are gratefull for that... (if you hadn't changed it, we would probably never know how sensitive you are).
I would like to keep in touch with you to discuss some ideas. It would be lovely to receive a message from you (my e-amil is maunakasato@walla.com). You probably won't - you don't even know me - but I guess it's worth trying, don't you think?
Maurício Nakasato, from São Paulo, Brazil
Greetings, again John.
Life really gives many circles thoughout our existences, huh? Although I try to enjoy changes the most, sometimes they bother me, too. Isn't it weird when you are used to a routine and that suddenly changed? Well, at least your life didn't change for nothing. You passed us an amazing story about an amzing dog and we are gratefull for that... (if you hadn't changed it, we would probably never know how sensitive you are).
I would like to keep in touch with you to discuss some ideas. It would be lovely to receive a message from you (my e-amil is maunakasato@walla.com). You probably won't - you don't even know me - but I guess it's worth trying, don't you think?
Maurício Nakasato, from São Paulo, Brazil
Greetings, again John.
Life really gives many circles thoughout our existences, huh? Although I try to enjoy changes the most, sometimes they bother me, too. Isn't it weird when you are used to a routine and that suddenly changed? Well, at least your life didn't change for nothing. You passed us an amazing story about an amzing dog and we are gratefull for that... (if you hadn't changed it, we would probably never know how sensitive you are).
I would like to keep in touch with you to discuss some ideas. It would be lovely to receive a message from you (my e-amil is maunakasato@walla.com). You probably won't - you don't even know me - but I guess it's worth trying, don't you think?
Maurício Nakasato, from São Paulo, Brazil
John, do you have any book signings in the NYC-Long Island area?
thanks!
...also, where in PA. do you live (near-ish)--just throw in some towns..
We've been looking in PA a lot but haven't found that place at least the way you describe it. What we've seen has been a little too built up. We've been looking in the outskirts of Harrisburg. Some folks say the Lehigh Valley is really nice. But as we travel rt. 78, it looks kind of...blah. We (wife and 5 kids and yellow lab 'Rudy' want to get off the beaten track. No more 50x100 plots for us!!!
watching you on the ben cheevers show...
Mr. Grogan, I am from Lisbon and I would like to thank you for sharing your amazing story.I cried with the end of the Marley, as I cried for my Twiggy death. No more I will forget it. Still, I did not obtain to recoup of as much suffering and homesickness. Congratulations for everything. And I hope all the best for you and your family.
If you have time you can read my history and Twiggy's beautiful photo, at the following link in your site:
Just a correction, she was born in 1991, not in 1971.
http://marleyandme.com/share/display.cgi?1170967835
John,
I am Brazilian and I've just read the book on the subject of Marley , is dificil constrain the passion foremost from the life he might give dog.
I wish I parabenizar by the amor unconditional than it is to you admited they had um with the another one , AND By share with the lecturers ( even if indiretamente ), those 13 years as of amicability companherismo and loyalty.
IS inestimavel like you and your chick , they had made with what that worse dog of the world , in case that tornasse literally a member from the family. A Linda love story.
I dipped in that book as of caput , and always myself I catch recall the aisles as of Marley , I give laughter all alone all alone AND I cry to the recall its ordeal well into your last days.
I'm going assitir to the movie which he participou ( the last Move ), I would like sees lo alive , actual, having the assuredness as of he went actual , than it is to he lived a life vividly as an old man son , full as of life.
He pictured as a must have been the ordeal as of your loss , as of your absence , more the ache ( I have assuredness ), today is takeover as of nostalgia AND keepsakes boas.
Now I twist for it to um prospective brief , can sees their history die-pressed well into a tela as of cinema. The life as of Marley like him even.
Thank you By at the denote he crosses he might give book than it is to the loyalty and the love by one dog is a number of times greater than the amities as of both men and women , on this account the book it shows the one as for amicability as of you admited he went free-of-charge , without fees , without collection , merely you admited in case that they loved gratuitamente.
Marley he went awarded By God , on this account he had the advisability of accompanying , participate AND form part from the formation as of your family. AND , God in turn he chose you accomplished AND Jenny for living , breed , in case that aggravate , higher as of all of it love that beautiful dog MARLEY.
That book is supreendente and marvelous , never I'm going forget that history as of life and as of amor he might give dog called Marley.
PS. I wish I ask for than it is to myself he sends photos as of Marley , I wish I he keeps las as a recall.
Hi John,
Your book Marley and Me was a Christmas gift from my best friend. At first, I didn't understand the reason why I would want to read a book about someone else's life with a dog, and not just any dog, but one described as the worlds worst dog!
I have a 13 year old white German Shepherd named Princess and she truly is a Princess!
As I read through all of Marley's antics I laughed and cried and then one day it hit me! It was like I was reading a prelude to life with Princess. She was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (?) when she was 3 years old and has been on meds ever since. Her old body is slowly failing. I see clouds in her eyes, her hearing has diminished greatly and her hips are very weak. She has trouble getting her back side off the floor in the mornings and she refuses to go outside in the snow because she is afraid of falling.
Which reminds me, when I read that you moved to Emmaus, PA I was in awe! I live on the outskirts of Emmaus! We are neighbors, kinda sorta!
Anyway, we have been keeping her in diapers now. I know that it is a matter of time till she will leave us. It breaks my heart to think of it, but it is inevitable.
Oh, and when she does go, I will tell her to look up Marley for you!
From one dog lover to another,
JProcanyn
Hi John I'm from Portugal and I just finish read "Marley and me" and I need to tell you that I loved. I have one black labrador but he is much more calm than Marley.
Kiss from Portugal
Oi John meu nome é Michelle, quero lhe parabenizar pelo livro...ri e chorei muito com Marley, lembrei de todos os cachorros que eu já tive e senti um vazio tão grande e forte, que, por segundos, eu desejei voltar no tempo só pra passar a mão na cabeça de cada um deles e dizer que os amava ainda, esse livro foi uma das maiores declarações de amor que eu já vi de um humano pra um cachorro.
Desejo tudo de bom pra você e sua família.
Abs.
Michelle