A story from Patrick about Book And Movie posted A story from Rachel about Love the book!!!! posted 10/29/2008 Well I don’t really have a story to tell you about me and a dog in my life, but I just finished your amazing written book, Marley and Me about three ago. I decided to pick up and read the book first because I was really bored, and second because my mom said it was a funny book. The first couple of chapters I was sort a bored just because I am young kind of, 12 turning 13. Any way after those chapters I was hooked on reading the book! The paycheck at the top of the mouth and swallowing the gorgeous necklace you gave Jenny OMG that part of the book really stuck out in my mind!!! In kindergarten my dad brought home a cat, I named her Annie. I wish my dad would have given her maybe a 10 extra try because my dad said she is mental, because when ever we were gone for a long period of time she would poop all over the floor and laundry (ewwww)! So my dad got rid of her unfortunately. When you guys were moving to Pennsylvania and Marley started barking I thought he was going to escape, thankfully he didn’t! The whole crickets’ thing made me laugh out loud! When the end of the book came near I took a deep breath because I knew it was almost over!! When Marley was about to die and you had to make the tough decision to put him down or to have him go through the tough surgery I was heart broken. I was with you and your wife Jenny on that you should put him to sleep in stead of having him go through the tough surgery. When you took Marley to the doctors and he had to be put down I was crying for the next two chapters!! It felt so real as if I was in the book. I am using your book to write a report on a book that may have changed my life. Your book is so touching and meaningful I just had to choose your book. I hope all is well with you, your new dog, Jenny, Colleen, Patrick, and Conor. Sincerely: Rachel 12, 7th grader A story from Patty Conklin about Longerst Trip Home posted 11/04/2008 Hi John - Loved Marley & Me (we have Max, a Boxer/Mastiff mix with similar personality as Marley) so when I saw your new book I had to pick it up. I finished reading it last week and all the way through it, I laughed until I cried. Your story hits home for me because I grew up in Royal Oak, Mi during the same years you did. My family were members of Shrine Parish in Royal Oak and I can totally relate to all the great stories you told. My parents were similar in their beliefs to yours and what was especially poignant to me was that as your Dad got sick, your family was discussing putting your Mom into Lourdes Nursing Home. My Mom was a resident at Lourdes from 1989 until she passed away in December, 2006. Thanks so much for writing a great book that brought my grouwing up years back to me! Both my sisters will be getting this book for Christmas. A story from Maureen Flynn Mansky about Our Lady of Refuge/Erie Dr. posted 11/11/2008 Contrary to the downward spiral in Deroit, O.L.R. is going stong and needs you! We are having our 14th annual auction and are dreaming of you doing an auction item for our school. I am the youngest of Pat and Shirley Flynns kids. We dont remember each other but do have a past connection. I have enjoyed all of your books so much. One of my Refuge friends asked if I knew you and if I would try to contact you. Just wondering if you would help our school out at this years auction? My email is henrymansky@yahoo.com. Please let me know. Thanks, Maureen A story from Carlos Aguirre about The Longest Trip Home posted 11/11/2008 John, thank you for The Lonest Trip Home. I devoured it the three days. Normally, a book that size would have taken me about two weeks. I relived my growing up years with you coming from a Catholic family, having attended catholic schools all my life. I didn't have an option as you did in high school, but I think that saved me. I wasn't much of anything, but in trouble quite often. The Brothers of St Patrick kept me on the right track, I've got the scars to prove it. I must admit I deserved every ruler, slug, and paddle I received. I grew up in LA, now living in Colorado Springs and one of our five children spent a year in Pontiac in the JVC, volunteering at Lighthouse Community Development on Woodward Ave. I knew exactly where Lake Orchard Road and the hospital your dad died was. This weekend I will make a journey home to help with my parents. My dad has ALS and my mom recently decided to stop further treatment for cirrhosis of the liver. After five weeks in a hospital and nursing home she has decided to come home and spent her last days in the home she has known for the last 49 years with my dad. Your book has given me an avenue to burst out in laughter at the funny and happy menories, and weep openly about knowing what's around the corner. I've learned through a death and dying class I recently took that there is life in the dying process. I've cared for my parents like never before, cried in front of them, discussed the unthinkable openly, not worrying so much about when and how they die. But, how am I going to live today? While living in Colorado, I only hope that I can be there when my mom takes her last breaths, slipping from this world into the next. Thank you for touching my heart with your words. Carlos Aguirre A story from Patty about Your books. posted 11/13/2008 After reading your book, I think Labs and Golden Retriever are very much alike. We have had 2 lifetimes with Goldens. Thank you for sharing your memories. I'm nearly finished with "The Long Trip Home". Did your brother Michael ever get tested for Lyme Disease? I think he should - sure sounds like it. Looking forward to seeing the movie! Very Best Wishes to you and the family! Patty A story from Karen Dennis about You wrote about my Class! posted 11/20/2008 You were writing for the Sun Sentinel in Palm Beach County ( oh my goodness...Boca Raton!!) You wanted to spend the day with a first year teacher on the first day of school (no self-respecting principal would allow that!) So you came to my room because I taught a ESE (exceptional student education) class and had a first year Speech Pathologist working with me. It was a HECTIC morning! I forgot you were in the room.....I had a little boy go a little wild....and my 1st year Speech Pathologist was getting an education himself! This year..I am still teaching in Boca...but just a regular "kindergarten class" (let me tell you some stories!!! " Mrs. Dennis...the poop won't flush...aahh the life of a Kindergarten teacher!) and we had our Book Fair. Yes, your children's books are front and center and I got to tell them how you visited my class a few years ago. I still love teaching...just as you love writing! I urge all of my friends to give you a "read"! Keep writing and I'll keep reading, Karen Dennis A story from Patricia about My babies posted 11/23/2008 I just wanted to say how much I loved Marley & Me. Never have I read a book that made me bawl my eyes out. I know the aweful feeling and pain of have to put down a beloved pet. I had a cat named Willy. I held him in my hand the day he was born. I had him for 16yrs. He was my sweet baby boy. I had to put him down because he had kidney failure. I greaved for him for 3 months and swore I would never get another pet EVER! Well a year later I adopted Phoebe, a 6 month old Min Pin/Jack Russell for the San Diego Humane Society. She is very well mannered and very lady like. A few month later we moved to a small town in Texas because of my husbands job and I got a job at Walmart. We had been thinking about getting Phoebe a friend but never really acted on it. Then back in Feb Phoebe and I drove back to San Diego to visit my daughter and grand daughter. I stayed for about a week. My first day back at work (Mar 1st)there was a page for customer service. Normally it's to help a customer out with something heavy so I wait for one of the guys to help. They paged again and I answered. Sure enough it was something heavy. Has we were walking to their car I happeewed up 2 couches, 2 chairs, some carpet, furniture, the window sill, countless harness's (while they were on him), shoes, clothes, and who knows whatelse. With all the distruction he's caused I wouldn't trade him for anything!!! Just recently I rescued another dog who I found walking down the side of the road. She was caked in mud and skinny. I took her home gave her a bath and named her Lindy. She's a Shepard/Rottie. Like Phoebe, she's very well mannered except when Wally tries to steal her bone or gets near her food. Here is their picture. You can see some of the damaged cause by Wally. I'm sure you can tell who is who, A story from Patrick about Book And Movie posted 11/26/2008 Hi John, I now have a labrador named rudy which is 3 years old and a poodle named romen which is about 4 monthes. good bye. A story from Christie about My best friend posted 11/28/2008 Dear John, Jenny, Patrick, Conor, and Colleen, I adopted my first dog from animal control here in Arizona. My life has truly changed for the better. Her name is Rosie, a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. She is an absolutely beautiful dog. I started reading Marley and me the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving and finished it the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was such a touching account of our lives with animals. I read the last 3 chapters (crying, of course) with Rosie asleep next to me on the floor with her head on my leg. Everyday, I love her more and more. Your book reminded me of how precious life can be and how there is the inevitable end. I am lucky to have a well behaved dog as my first. Being my first, she will always be special. Thanks for sharing your story with me. Christie A story from Pat about Gizmo posted 12/19/2008 I read Marley and me and laughed so hard as I have grown up with golden's and have had a few episodes that were similar to some of the things Marley did. But I always wanted a pocket dog and so my husband got me a Boston terrier little did I know that this dog that stands 2 feet high and is about 20lbs and has just turned 2 could give me such a run. There is not a gate or door that can hold him and everything in the house has been in his mouth. I think he has read the book and is trying to out do Marley! A story from Patricia Gawronski about My dog Cosmo posted 12/21/2008 I adopted Cosmo at 4 months old he is part English bull mastiff and sharpei. He is cute and adorable little did I know he could be evil. We had him for about 2 months and we kept him and the other dogs in our back bedroom which had a day bed and dog beds chewies, water the works well cosmo decided he didn't like the carpet so he ripped it up himself under rubber and all then he ate the day bed mattress. Needless to say after he destroyed my backyard landscaping I had to cage him when I was not at home. My vet actually recommended it. Well Cosmo is now 4 yrs old still is very playful and loving. But still likes to get into trouble his favorite is trying to hike out cement wall to get to our neighbors dogs. He has not accomplished that yet and of course he loves to swim in our pool. I loved your book my friend recommended it after hearing what I was going through with Cosmo. I can't wait to see the movie on Christmas Day. Well thanks for listening Pat and Cosmo Sorry I didn't have a current picture A story from Patricia Jo LaBreck about Brandi and me posted 12/26/2008 My story begins with a tiny little puppy who was the runt of the litter. It was this dog that kept me safe and happy. Born also with hip defects she never was a normal dog. Always disabled and always happy and funny and willing to love. I was told she would not live till 10. Her hip joints were absent but with care and love she made it till 15 years 8 months. I was her legs and she was my support funny how that works. A story from Beverly Beauchamp about J. B. and Patches posted 12/26/2008 I just finished reading Marley and Me. What a wonderful story. I laughed and cried. My dog, J. B., was given to me by a coaching friend of mine and my husband of 32 years. J. B. was born the day my husband died, January 19, 1997. She has been my companion for 12 years and is growing old. I am beginning to see her falter-can't hear and sleeps most of the time. Patches is a calico manx cat who made my husband love her. When he died, she hid in the neighbors garage for a week before we found her. They are very old now--Patches is 15 and still looks as she did at two. I cannot stand knowing that their time is very limited. I just love them so much and dread the day that they will be gone. Your story brought so many memories back to me. My husband and I were both in the education business, he a coach/teacher, and I was a business/English teacher. He coached for 30 years and was the "love of my life." I miss him so very much. We had three children--two boys and the girl he had wanted so long. I had one miscarriage and lost a full term little girl between the two boys. I have kept a journal for many years and have wanted to share my story--just very personal and not sure anyone would want to read it even though it was very special. I am now 64 and have been alone for a long time; however, I have been fournate enough to have found someone to love--a widower who lost his wife a few months prior to my losing John. It took me a long time (6 years) before I could really date and be serious again. I met and fell in love with my husband at age 14; never dated anyone else. We married in 1963--I was 19; he was 20. It was a lifetime of love and respect. There were not many dull moments being married to a coach. We raised our children in a small East Texas town until they were in junior high; then moved to Katy, Texas, just west of Houston, Texas. I have lived here now for 20 years and still miss him very much. I now have four grandchildren and have been retired since 2002. Thanks for Marley and Me Beverly A story from Pat Cawley about Casey - our Chocolate Lab posted 12/29/2008 I just finished reading your fabulous book "Marley&Me" and I had to let you know how deeply this story touched me. I laughed so hard that my tears prevented me from reading and the moments that tugged at my heart were wrenching. You see, you had a clone of our dog, Casey, a dopey, hysterically funny, clumsy lump of love that gave us 14 years of the most precious memories any family could ever dream of. Like you, after years of begging from my son Matthew to get a puppy I had a moment of weakness and said those fatal words "Okay, you win". Through friends, into our lives came this skinny, wiry little runt of a chocolate ball that was supposed to be my son Matthew's dog, but grabbed all of us by the heart and never let go. Casey got into more trouble so often that when I read how Jenny wanted Marley OUT, I knew exactly how she felt. Needless to say, Casey never went anywhere. We could never figure out how a dog could be so stupid, cunning, happy and loveable all at the same time. Matthew loved that dog so much that he allowed Casey to sleep under the covers with his head on his own pillow. What a sight to see that chocolate head sleeping on a pillow burroghed under the covers next to Matthew (actually, kind of spooky). When I walked into "their" room, Casey would lift up his head as if to say "Oh, we're sleeping in today" and go right back to sleep. We had so many embarassing momments with Casey. Our next door neighbor loved Casey and stopped by to pet him on our front lawn - only to have Casey roll over on his back and pee all over her arm. Talk about mortification! He also had a love thing for my best friend - every time she walked in the door, Casey would run up to her and pee on her shoes! Being of black Irish humor, we all thought that was the funniest thing ever and would be spastic singing "You Do Something To Me" to my friend. Somehow, she loved us anyway. We had an almost identical "dog training" incident with Casey as you - only change was Matthew was the mortified "Master" when the dog trainer tried to show him how to control Casey and our darling Lab rolled over and peed all over his shirt. The black Irish humor got me again and I was howling sitting in the bleachers in the gym watching this fiasco. We never went back!! So you see, your book was a wonderful look back at the life we had with Casey for 14 fabulous years. Years that made this family realize what joy a loving dog can bring and how lucky we were to have had this particular, precious animal in our lives. Thanks for the memories -- we'll read your book many, many times. Pat Cawley A story from Patty Gawronski about Cosmo my dog posted 12/30/2008 I just got back from seeing Marley and Me. It was so true to the book but I left the theatre very sad but realizing that no matter what the dog may do you always love them. Even when we have to say goodbye Cosmo reminds me of Marley very much but he has a big heart and he always takes care of us. He is 4 yrs old I have had him since he was 3 months old. thanks Patty A story from Cheryl about Patches posted 02/28/2010 I have never been so moved to respond to a book as I have been by Marley & Me. I am a dog lover. Good, bad or otherwise. My first dog was a Lab-Australian mix. She was a wonderful dog and you can see from her picture how she got the name Patches. Even her eyes were different colors. Patches died several years ago when she was 12 years old. Reading your story, John, reminded me of how special she was to me. Before my first husband and I divorced she was my companion. Then after the divorce, she became my confidant. We were inseparable except when I was at work or church. I actually think she thought she was a human. When I remarried, I moved out to the country and she learned how to be a "dog" by watching my husband's wonderful dog, Maggie. She gradually trusted leaving my side to explore with Maggie. Soon they were best buds chasing rabbits and digging for gophers. I was blessed to have such wonderful mate. A story from Katy about My dogs adventure! posted 03/06/2010 Hi John and Jenny and Marley! I just wanted to share one of my stories from my dog, Luna, a Patterdale/rat terrier mix! One time, i was getting Luna some water, and as i was about to put the dish down, she jumped on my arm and knocked ALL the water on top of me, and her! That was a messy, and funny day. I love your movie Marly and me! Yours truly, Katy PS- I am actually watching the movie right now! A story from Pat about Bunsen and the Thanksiving turkey posted 07/03/2010 Bunsen is a black lab mix who is highly spirited and forever hungry. One Thanksgiving evening, after all the guests had left, I took the remaining flesh off the turkey carcass and left it in the roasting pan on the back of the stove.I left the kitchen for a few seconds to put some aluminum foil in the trash to prevent Bunsen from getting it form the kitchen trash and consuming it. As i return to the kitchen, I see Bunsen running toward the doggie door, turkey carcass in mouth,with Petrie, my shepherd mix in hot pursuit. Unfortunately or fortunatley,The turkey carcass would not fit through the opening in the doggie door. In fear that Petrie would attempt to enjoy the leftovers, Bunsen then bolted upstairs to my bedroom where he proceeded to enjoy the carcass in the middle of my dry-clean-only comforter that was on my bed since guests had been invited for the holiday. This little escapade resulted in a trip to the emergency pet hospital as well as a vain attempt by the dry cleaners to salvage the comforter. Bunsen is n o 12 years old and can no longer reach the back of the kitchen stove. I miss these crazy things he used to do and am ever aware that his days with me are coming to a close.I just finished reading Marley and Me and wept because too love my slightly crazy, nearly human, best friend A story from Barb Spunar Paton about Neighborhood posted 07/19/2010 Hi John, This has nothing do to with Marley and Me, but rather, The Long Journey Home, which I am currently reading. I had to write a note because I grew up on Pine Lake and currently live in Sylvan. I went to OLR in the 70's; hung out at Cass Lake; rode my bike to Sylvan Lanes; still shop at the party store across from OLSM, etc. I had no idea that the author of Marley & Me grew up in the same area as myself. Reading this book is bringing so many childhood memories back for me. Your story about the nuns at OLR had me in laughter/tears with the metal edged rulers and erasers. AND ..... I was one of those kids who got the eraser thrown right smack in the forehead for talking! Well, again, I just had to write a little blurb and thank you for sharing your life in such a comical way. Barb Read More Stories > Begin Sharing Your Story >