olá sou do brasil e adorei o filme, e é claro corri para comprar o livro, e adorei mais ainda bom a história que tenho a compartilhar e a seguinte, desde pequena sempre adorei animais, e um dia minha prima não queria mais o cachorro dela, eu adorava muito aquele pequeno e peludo vira-lata , sabendo disso meus pais fizeram uma surpresa para mim, é claro que adorei, e dali não nos largamos mais ele era muito amavel adorava seus uivos quando o sino da igreja tocava, e claro ele foi ficando velhinho e minha avó adorava ele, foi que decidimos leva-ló para lá, bem no interior ele teria muito chão para correr e explorar. Um dia meu avô trouxe uma cadelinha pretinha para casa muito brincalhona e meu avô teve a brilhante ideia de cruza-los, ela deu a luz a três filhotes lindinhos, um pretinho peludinho, um caramelo de pelo ralinho e uma menina meio mesclada, minha avó ficou com o caramelo, e meu primo com o pretinho, só que a menina ninguem queria só que todo mundo adorava ela, ai tivemos a ideia de ficar com ela, só que ela era pequenina então eu fiz uma caminha no meu quarto, mas é claro ela sempre teve autonomia, e desde o primeiro dia mostrou seu lugar na casa e sua posição na familia,e logo passou a passear de cama em cama de madrugada, heh, eu deixava jornal para suas necessidades e ai precebi não estavam mais molhados, quando me escondi e vi que ela por ci só ia ao banheiro e fazia xixi no ralo, nunca tivemos problemas em casa com ela, nunca mexeu em nada mesmo sozinha em casa a unica fara é no sófa que ela detona (risos), adorada por toda familia ela ja escutava quando meu pai e meu irmão voltavam do serviço e paravam com a caminhonete na esquina de casa, ela ja os esperava na porta aflita, mais um belo dia eu, meu pai, e minha mãe saimos para fazer compras e uma fatalidade aconteceu, sofremos um acidente de carro, e meu pai veio a falecer, e é claro que minha Nina sentiu logo sua falta ela chorava pelos cantos, não comia mais, minha mãe estava muito machucada e não podia lhe dar atenção, ela era o chodó de meu pai, ele adorava ela, dormiam juntos de meio dia e ele sempre dava-lhe uma bala após o almoço,até sentavam juntos no sofá. umas semanas após o acontecido minha mãe a levou junto ao cemitério e ela começou a cherar e a cavar pois queria desesterar meu pai, ai minha mãe a acalmou e de alguma forma ela entendeu, e começou a comer de novo e a viver novamente, até parou de esperar na porta a cada caminhonete que pasava, nos mudamos e tudo melhorou, hoje para mim ela é muito mais que uma companhia, ela sempre estava la nos momentos dificeis, nos superamos tudo juntas, e ela me faz muito feliz mesmo, hoje ela morra comigo e com o meu namorado, eles brinco bastante e ela adora ele, e eu gosto muito de ter ela como despertador de manhã, quando ela pula em cima de nós e fica nos lambendo e quer brincar eu adoro isso, não tem preço que pague o amor de animalzinho.
kellen d schmitz País: Brasil Estado: rio grande do sul cidade:Dois irmãos dia:06/02/12 hora:12:52 a.m
Dear John, While I was pregnant with my third baby, my parents, two kids and I loaded up the car and picked out two puppies. One for each of us. My dad picked one out and on the way home decided we better switch because ours was too roudy for two small children. HA! He ended up with Kizzy who to till day destroys his lawn. She is almost 13 yrs old and still digs up the farm! I find it hilarious! The dog I ended up with we named Jacey. Jacey grew up with my three kids and was one of them. They harnessed her up to the sleds, they rode her like a horse, but must of all she loved to farm! When fall time came, she loved it most when the John Deeres were out and harvesting the corn and beans. Jacey loved to ride in the tractors and run around the freshly picked fields sniffing for critters. In the fall of 2007, Jacey was running in the field as I was in the tractor bringing wagons to my dad to fill. Horrifically, I ran her over. My heart sunk. She ran back to the house and layed there looking perfectly fine. As I tried to get her into the van to take her to the vet, she started to bleed. Jacey died on the way to the vet. My heart aches for her. Jacey is buried below the lilac bushes I look out and see everyday. We now have another black lab named Ellie. She has taken a long time to get into the grove of our family and is certainly different from Jacey. In fact she just gave us the experience of our first litter of pups! Now we have four dogs! I have read your book twice, have the movie and am humbled with each reading and viewing. I miss Jacey terribly. With the circumstances of her death, I have the guilt too. Thanks for writing this book. We all shared your happiness and sorrows. Amy
Pip came into my life a few months after I lost my last dog Lexie. He was a little stray in need of a home and seemed such a gentle, friendly pup. However he soon revealed his "shredding" habits. I had been given "Bad Dogs Have More Fun" for christmas and had been reading a few stories every day so it was sitting on my coffee table. One day I came home and found it in several pieces. Thankfully Pip was less interested in the reading matter then the thorough destruction of the hard cover. I guess he wanted to see if the title of the book was correct. Since then I have left some magazines on the table that met a similar fate.
I lost my wild dog recently after putting down moth balls on fence line to keep him from digging under. He (being a little loopy like Marley) ate some and died before I could get him to emergency clinic. I have since read Marley & Me and was touched. I had no idea there was a West Palm connection before I opened the book. I have a friend in the 200 block of Churchill and had no idea of the violence in the area, much of it over chump change. We like to think we are the superior beings but like you said in the last few pages of Marley & Me, dogs love and live joyously in the moment and can teach us A LOT if we pay attention. I have another dog (not as wild) who thankfully I still have and I am able to spend lots of time with. Please consider giving time and $ if available to local animal care and control facilities. I walk dogs at ours a couple of hrs a wk and these dogs are so thankful to get out of cages and need socialization to make adoption easier.
Tango is now 3 and a half years old the last week I took him for a walk in the park early n the morning on a retractable leash he saw 2 hoopoe birds that I did not without warning he took off and in true marley style and I was yanked off my feet into a horizontal position and bang I was on the ground he saw me fall and charged back to me licked my face almost asking me "what happened to you old man" I instatly got up and kissed him for his concern when will human beings realize this kind of concern
I am a 13 year old girl and have always had a love for animals, I have had a lot of different animals but I never had a dog. This is the story of how I got one. A year ago, in one week we found my dog. It was a Saturday morning and my mom, sister and I where getting ready to go to the farm where we keep our horse. My mom got an email saying that the owners of the farm found a beagle in their barn. I was existed to to see her. But I was not at all prepared to see what bad condition she was in. When we got to the farm I saw the little beagle laying down and I was about ready to cry. She was staving to death covered in mud and was freezing. All I wanted to do was hold her, but I was afraid I would break her. The entire week before we found her there had been at least a foot of snow on the ground making it impossible for the poor dog to find anything to eat. My mom called my dad to ask if we could take her home until we found her owner and she got healthier. My dad agreed that that would be better than sending her to a animal shelter. When we brought her home the first thing we did was buy dog food this was the first time we had a dog so we went to the vet to see what we should feed her. They gave us a high protein food and said to give it to her in small amounts several times a day. That didn't happen, that dog could eat mountains of food and still can. From being out in the woods the dog did not smell anything close to good, we tried giving her a bath but it really ended up with me getting a bath. She was only 15 pounds but she was strong enough that I needed to stand in the bathtub with her and hold her down. While I was doing the dirty work my older sister was thinking of names for the dog. She came up with the name Allana. although she was not officially our dog we could not just call her dog. About a week later when Allana put on a few pounds and was much more active we brought her to the vet. There we looked to see if anyone was missing a beagle. It did not seem that anyone was. Allana got her shots and the vet made sure she was okay. Weeks went by and no one was looking for a beagle. By then Allana had become attached to our family and we became attached to her she was the sweetest dog I have ever met. Allana never grew to trust other people she was always scared of them but she loved my family. By then we decided Allana was officially a part of our family. And by the late spring Allana was back to her full health as a very energetic beagle. I am glad Allana is with my family, and I think she is too.
During the summer of 2009, my sister's standard poodle, Frodo, had become increasingly more sick with Lymphoma.
Frodo was the quintessential well-behaved dog. My sister, Cindy, had worked with him from day one, so he always went outside to pee, never begged for human food and was generally mild mannered. It was always fun to watch him slide across the wooden floor and crash into the wall when he knew he was going outside. He would sometimes have OCD about certain things - like the guinea pigs my sister bought for her stepchildren. He would hover over their cage and watch them incessantly.
It finally became time for Cindy to put her dog down. He was so ill and just not the same. I had not been working at the time, so I was able to spend time with my sister as she grieved. The following day, we decided to rent a couple of movies to try and cheer her up. We had heard the Marley and Me was really funny, so we picked it up. Unfortunately, we did not know how the story of Marley ended, so when that part of the movie came around, i was fraught with indecision about what to do. Internally, I was unsure about whether to turn off the movie or let it play. I ended up choosing the later. My sister sat on my couch and bawled and bawled. I think now that it was probably cathartic for my sister to be able to grieve as she did. We chuckle now about our inappropriately timed movie choice, but I am sure glad we were able to laugh at Marley's antics... and also remember some of the goofiness of my sister's dog, Frodo... may he rest in peace.
July 27,2011 I adopted the most amazing German Shepherd/Boxer mix puppy. He was 9 weeks old. After a little debate I named him Caffrey. For the first few days he slept with me because I didn't have a kennel for him to sleep in. Well he was such a sweetie and he learned to sit and lay down in no time. Well Caffrey has grown quite a bit since then and he now knows how to shake (mom taught him that) and is just grasping the concept of stay. However, I can NOT leave him alone in the house. I put him in my room a few times while we went to town and came back to a disaster. Caffrey had torn up everything even a few CD's that were in there cases on the shelf when I left. Caffrey is a super hyper boy and can be very hard to manage sometimes but I LOVE him. The picture above is of him when he was 5 months old in the car after his visit to the vets office. Just thought I'd share my little boy with you all.
Hello, my name is Anna, I'm from Latvia. I just want to tell how excited I am about Marley and Me, especially about the book.Now, in my winter holidays, I'm reading it 2nd time,"I'm all in it".That's unbelievable, how great You describe all your life.I'd love to have as much colorful life as You have had.That's amazing - living that way and finally describe it in a fantastic book.Big thank you for giving such a wonderful impression.
In this picture You can see my golden retriever Feja - she is my life's miracle.:)
A story from Rob B. from Atlanta, GA about Audio Version of The Longest Trip Home
posted 12/30/2011
Although I had seen the movie "Marley and Me", I had not read the book, but I picked up the audio version of "The Longest Trip Home" to listen to during a long road trip over Christmas. My wife and I loved the book, and it was especially nice having it read by the author. I still marvel at how in the world you were able to read some of the more emotional passages without breaking up. I certainly shed more than a few tears listening to them!
A story from Ana Cristina Feola Pereira about The Longest Trip Home
posted 12/30/2011
John, I've just finished reading The Longest Trip Home. It has touched me a lot. I am Brazilian and I was raised in a Catholic family very much like yours. More than once in the book I was surprised by your words, your sentences ... they were my words, my sentences!!! You made me cry a lot when you told your Dad it had been an honor to be his son. Today as a mother I believe that was the most valuable gift you could have given to your father. I like your writing style very much. Congratulations!
A story from Ja about Marley
posted 12/27/2011
Hello John, Marley & Me just came on the TV, made me smile. 2 years ago, my partner & I were expecting our first little girl and were stuck for a name. We agreed on nothing, and thought we'd have to draw straws at one point. Then the commercial for Marley & Me came on the TV one night, and I looked at him and said 'What about Marley?'@ he we both stopped and smiled, we knew it was perfect. 2 years later, we get so many compliments on her name, everyone telling us how much it suits our shy, grey eyed babba x Ta u Marley, if it wasn't for you my partner and I probably still be arguing over what to call her :)
A story from Shirley Puckett about Max My Black Lab.
posted 12/21/2011
MAX OUR WONDERFUL DOG. Choosing our puppy. It was the summer of June 2007. Max was born May 6th, 2007. My mom,my daughter Haley that was six at the time, and my son Kelly that was just about to turn four. We drove to Murfreesboro Tennessee to check out the lab puppies. I believe there were 3 black and 1 yellow which had a deposit on so he was not available. I wanted the runt. He was so small and so cute. He did not seem to be interested in the kids at all. Now Max he was a clown. He chased the kids around the back yard and played in his water bowl and splashed the water and dumped it all over. He barked and grabbed at my pants. I remember mom saying I think this little guy has chosen you and the kids. That day we did not pick out or puppy. Max picked us. He was seven weeks old when we got him. Got him right before 4th of July which the fireworks never bothered him. He was smart and was house trained in a matter of days. He was perfect and we loved him so much and he loved us. The following March which was 2008 my husband went to Washington to work and Max missed him so. Let me tell you I was just starting to trust him without the crate so I would leave him for 15 min at a time. He destroyed all the books in the book shelf on the bottom row. He destroyed the couch, love seat, stereo, remote, speakers and I caught him on the bed in the basement tearing it all up. Looked like a square donut. He was a Marley all the way. When Marley And Me came out Christmas day I took the kids to see it. Great movie and we felt like we were watching our Max, We laughed and we cried. Now of course we have the movie and several of your books and I still cry every time I see the movie. We were starting our life with our first dog and the kids. What an experienced it has been. Max is now four. He will be five in May of 2012. A few years back we found out my son had allergies and so we started dealing with the shots. Max was here to stay. He is our son to. We blocked him off from my sons room with a pet gate. I was down stairs washing and drying clothes. Max was barking and acting all crazy. He leaped over the pet gate and upstairs he ran barking his head off. I followed only to find my son very sick and Max knew and he saved his life. That night the pet gate went out to the trash and Max had no limits. He saved our son and to that Max deserves the best. He is very spoiled and silly and just to make us all laugh. My mom passed away when Max was two and I had a hard time with that but my Max was there to dry my tears and kiss me. I look at him today and I think how in the world will I let this dog go someday. I think of Marley and I think of Gracie and you and your family. I just WANT TO SAY i AM SO PROUD TO HAVE A LAB AND SOMEDAY WHEN Max IS NO LONGER WITH US, i WILL ADOPT A LAB FROM THE SHELTER. We bought Max but since then I have been involved in animal rescue and my goal is to rescue a lab or two maybe three or four. These are future plans and I plan to name them Marley, Max, Gracie, and whatever comes next. I feel the love for our Max that you felt for your Marley and your Gracie. I always say a house is just a house until you bring home the dog, then the house becomes a home. Pets complete our families. They make it all worth it. I admire you and am grateful I was able to read your books and see your movie about Marley. I believe labs are the only breed. lol Hope to hear from you sometime. God Bless you and your family. May your precious angels RIP. Will there be another dog in your family? Thank you Mr. Grogan. Your forever animal friend,Shirley Ann Puckett
A story from 456456456 about DOGS
posted 12/21/2011
you will always love them
A story from bailey about me and my dog
posted 12/20/2011
the ending of marley and me was almost EXACTLY how my first dog died
A story from Jennie Jenkins about Thank you John!
posted 12/18/2011
I just want to thank John Grogan for writing marley and me! I live in a shelter for women who are victims of domestic violence and the book marley and me made me escape the pain i'm running from. The book made me laugh out loud and at the end when marley passed away i sobbed and sobbed. No book has ever been able to make me cry and i've read a lot of books in my life. The movie was nothing compared to the book. Thanks again John for writing that book. It was the BEST book i've ever read!!!
A story from Bert DiDonato about Loved "Marley and Me"
posted 12/12/2011
Loved you book..."Marley and Me"...but very interested in where you have been.. We are originally from Bethlehem, Pa, a few miles from Emmaus, and had dear friends who worked at Rodale... In fact, I wrote one those people (Grace Paulnack)who worked there and told her to be sure to read your book... I also am a "die hard" Penn State fan (so sorry to hear about the mess they are in... but the situation is their own doing.. and so, so sad that are in that mess, worse than Ohio State!!, your alma mater...another school I follow who are doing pretty well in basketball.. I'm just not convinced that a great football program (like Ohio State) is more important than a great learning experience. I also root for all the Philadelphia sports teams (college and pro)..but I am reluctant to wear my Eagle jerseys this year!!! THEY HAVE NOT HAD A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM SINCE 1960!!!!! I read the Phila. Inquirer almost daily on the internet and l lived and worked in South Phila. (9th and McKean) in my teens many years ago. I do plan to read your other books...but it takes me a long time to do so, since I am enjoying my Florida friends...We live on the west coast of Florida, just off the Gulf of Mexico...but do visit Florida's east coast from time to time. My best to you and your family...and continued success... Sincerely, Bert DiDonato bertdido@earthlink.net
A story from Bert DiDonato about Loved "Marley and MeE"
posted 12/12/2011
A story from Jessica about My Dog Bozz
posted 12/04/2011
Dear John, I got a dog for my birthday.I spend time to think of his name.My dad thoughtof Boss and changed the s's to z's.we didn't do much reserch about his family.We wondered why he was growing so repidly.We found out he's inbred...but we still love him.My brother the most he went crazy and looked up things inbred dogs could have.My mother told him to calm down.Its past his first birthday and he's not showing any signs of being sick.Now he's has what my mother says is a hematoma.It looks better now.He has not yet had his first chrismas and i wonder what has in store. Love, Jessica and Bozz
A story from Lynda DiMatteo about John Grogan's generous and sage advice!
posted 12/03/2011
December 3, 2011
Dear John,
How does one pen a letter to a virtual stranger to express how much of an impact they had on their creative life? And how does one possess the audacity to seek, once again, their sage advice? You just put your courageous fingers to the keyboard I suppose!
So here is the very belated but heartfelt ‘thank you’ to you, John Grogan, from me, Lynda DiMatteo, the former Mrs. Lynda Altmann, former Editor of Parenting Plus, former reporter for Channel 57 Good Morning Florida show, the former Editor of The Observer newspaper and former upper middle class white chick. (I was never fired, there was an economically based layoff of all non-family personnel at PPlus, Channel 57 ultimately could not secure its cable rights and, after decades in existence, The Observer sadly printed its final edition in 2009 when hit hard with the economic downturn). I am officially the Black Widow of small businesses!
Long ago I subscribed to the Sun Sentinel for virtually one purpose: John Grogan’s column. I related to each one as though talking to a friend over a coffee about life’s idiosyncrasies from the mundane to the comical and the tragic. Being a former Boca housewife/mother (so NOT a Bocahontas, thank you)! I felt we were living and breathing parallel lives raising our children in those white (pink) suburban walls. (That was an obscure reference to a haunting Marianne Faithful circa 1980 song: The Ballad of Lucy Jordan). I am the self proclaimed Rainman of musical references. Give me 60 seconds and I can cite a lyric or song title to match any situation. It’s a kick at gatherings but not a marketable job skill but at least They Can’t Take That Away From Me! (Best song on Rainman soundtrack barring After Midnight)!
Although my degree (FAU Alumnus) is in Human Resource Management, the only true passion and success I’ve enjoyed is in creating something that touches people through their emotions. Long ago, I penned a commentary published by the Sentinel regarding America’s missing and exploited children and the animals who perpetrate these crimes. I knew the Sentinel was to publish it but didn’t know when until one morning my phone rang at 6 a.m. In my alarmed stupor, I answered. On the other end was a man reciting my editorial. Since that morning’s issue was still sitting in my driveway, I quickly realized it had been published and this was my first ‘fan’ call. Turns out, he was a fanatic, a sick mind who looked up my listed phone number and knew my address and that I had two young children. It was then I realized how a writer exposes themselves in far reaching ways. But as I was still reeling from his frightening diatribe, another call came in a few weeks later. It was Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, thanking me for my article for he had just published a heartbreaking song, Daddy, in which the proceeds would go to an organization founded in the aftermath of a murdered precious little girl in New Jersey. We spoke professionally and it was all I could do not to tell him how surreal it was for me to have him on the other end of my phone as I had owned every album he ever made and probably wore out six vinyl versions of Lucky Man. It was then that I realized there’s good and bad to every action we take and a writer was born.
The next thing I knew I had composed a collection of quirky articles but did not know what to do with them and I called my local, literary hero to ask his advice. You took my call from your desk at the Sentinel. I recall you were generous with your advice, fabulously dry and wickedly hysterically. As my work was predominantly centered on parenthood I began selling articles across the country to regional parenting publications, eventually landing a position with Parenting Plus of the Palm Beaches and ultimately became Editor. I quite liked being a big fish in a small subtropical pond and quickly learned the power of a silly title and morphed into a reviewer of toys, educational products and, sheer genius…family friendly resorts! All rooted in the sage advice from a kind columnist.
I remember how sad I was when you penned your last goodbye to South Florida but I silently wished you well. It was a kick when I saw your name pop up years later on Marley & Me and then the movie. I read and watched with a feeling of pride and a “good for you, John Grogan” attitude. Of course you perfectly touched the hearts of all blessed with a Marley in their lives. Mine was Bruno, the naughtiest, obese beagle who terrorized my Christmas tree every year but protected my children and the ‘fridge’ from anyone who dared to venture near either. Congratulations on all your success and your newest book!
I escaped Boca in ‘02 and built a home in the (then) countrified western communities of Palm Beach County. When we broke ground there was not one Starbucks in Dodge, but, by the time we moved in, there were six within a five mile radius. At least the kids had a little more wide open spaces to play on, and, to this day, virtually no one beeps at you, even if you hesitate to gas it when a light turns green. Small favors!
What the blissfully, clueless Mrs. Lynda Altmann did not foresee was the divorce of the century that began in ‘03 and was finalized in ‘05. Honest Abe the tax accountant left this mother with massive debts and two shell shocked children. You might enjoy the mix CD I made of that era: Titled it Baker Act… included such tracks as Like a Rolling Stone, Refugee, Freefalling, Comfortably Numb, Everybody Hurts, Closer to Home (I’m Your Captain), Whiter Shade of Pale, Can’t Find My Way Home, Wild World…the list was long and very apropos. It was the first time I’d worked outside of the home and took a reporting job for The Observer and eventually became its editor. I thought my penance was to forever cover ribbon cuttings, charity galas and taking shots of pompous people with those giant prop checks, some savvy enough never to position themselves at the end of the shot for they risked being cropped. But, then The Observer’s doors eventually closed. It felt as though South Florida was the canary in a mine of economic predictors. For the last three years, this mother has done what she had to do, and worked the most brain numbing, mundane job without an iota of creativity involved. My kids each graduated high school, both with two years of college completed before they graduated due to dual enrollment and each earned full academic scholarships. My proudest accomplishment, considering they had all odds stacked against them.
But for three years of feeling like a ‘lifer’ I have added on to a story I began over a decade ago. The soundtrack, of course, is chock full of stellar tunes from the late 70’s right up to the present day’s lovely Adele. It is a quirky romantic/human connection piece: envision Bridges of Madison County mixed with You’ve Got Mail with a bit of Almost Famous thrown in. It all happened in real life, in real time and I have priceless emails from three people from my past who were part of that piece I began 10+ years ago. Each has tracked the others down through avenues such as LinkedIn, Facebook etc...but ironically all within a few short weeks on each other. It spawned a priceless banter of witty, side-splitting, heart wrenching, brutal truths of who we were then and who each is now…My ‘ghosts’ gave me the ending to my story and they say “Run with it!”
Technically, the working title, is Dear, Dan Hill (of Sometimes When We Touch fame). I have a bizarre link to Manny Pacquiao, who ironically, just covered and revived Sometimes When We Touch. And what child of the late 70’s didn’t have a slow dance to that gem?
You and these ‘ghosts’ from my very happy past are part of what I’ve coined The Human Connection Chaos Theory. Every action we make ripples down to unknown places, in unfathomable ways at times. I have been blessed to rekindle these past connections and carry on a rich dialogue of how each has touched the other even though we hadn’t communicated from 25-33 years. We are spread now all over the globe but all rooted to South Florida. Many tell me it is “my time” to revive the writer who went into a ‘coma’ a few years back and has just been on auto-pilot, survival mode to do whatever it takes to provide for my kids. But, now this mom, this former beach girl, has a beautiful, quirky, relatable story, partly written, partly in her brain and too many people telling me I’ve got something here.
So here it goes again, one of you earliest, most sincere fans is a checker player in your world of chess players. How does one go about presenting her ‘baby’ the safe, sound way to see if it might be a valuable, viable project to move forward with? I am not dreaming of J.K. Rowling-like success. I’m perfectly content to move a little higher up Maslowe’s Hierarchy of Needs and you are the one soul I hope might still be generous with his advice. Song I’m feeling after all I’ve survived…Steve Winwood’s Back in the High Life! I’m telling you, the soundtrack is killer!
I’m told my unique divorce would make a story/screenplay…final tab….approximately $400,000 and I was left penniless and in bankruptcy. Theme song: The End of the Innocence. I am the only American who says God Bless the IRS, because although lawyers charge obscene amounts to present the truth, the IRS embraces it and charges nothing! Beginning to smell like J.K.’s story? Mine doesn’t have wizards, or vampires…just ghosts from a beautiful life interrupted.
Needless to say, I am looking forward to your response. If nothing else, thank you for Marley and great Sentinel memories. Your success couldn’t have happened to a better man.
Sincerely, Lynda
A story from Bonnie about Daily and Miche
posted 11/26/2011
Daily,my blaclk lab, was born in Aug. 1994. She passed away in July.Seventeen years.She was so loyal.My dearest friend.I'm lost without her and have tried to have another but find her to be irreplaceable. Miche was my chocolate lab who I had for 12 years. She left in Oct.2008.She could sniff out an empty beer can a mile away.I just finished watching Marley and Me for the second time. Much harder this time. Too many memories.
A story from Jeff Tandler about My Dog Teddy
posted 11/25/2011
John,
My name is Jeff Tandler-I live in St. Louis, MO. I read Marley and Me in May of 2005-I was inspired because I too had a lab; a chocolate, off the wall, 100 pounds of mischief and exuberance of life, but surrounded by the kindest and gentlest personality. This book has resonated with me very deeply. You were able to do what many have tried before you and failed-personified a dog in the most realistic and honest way-as you stated-not like Rin Tin Tin or Old Yeller.
And not only that, but Marley's love and devotion to you was the unwavering theme as you lived your life with kids arriving, moving, jobs, change, etc.
Well, my life has followed your book very closely. We also got Teddy when we were newlyweds. We also had a miscarriage that was very difficult and Teddy was a comfort for us. In a way, I can see a lot of myself and my life in this book.
I always would joke that Teddy was not Marley, but definetely a second cousin. And even though there were days when my wife and I wanted to strangle him, we loved him with all of our hearts. He was my best friend.
I am writing tonight because this morning I unexpecetly had to put him to sleep at the young age of 6. This dog loved to eat everything from my 2 years old's toys to cell phones. A personal favorite of his were socks. This past week he began throwing up and upon further investigation by our vet, he developed a severe bowel obstruction.
I am 30 years old, a husband, a father of a daughter and expecting another in March, and I am absolutely devestated and beside myself right now. There really is only one other person in my entire life who I have felt this type of grief for.
I have been thinking a lot about your book today-specifically the chapter "under the cherry trees" where you discussed how you would commune with Marley, visiting his grave, touching his collar in your sock drawer, and having the feeling of emptiness. In a way, your book is a comfort to me.
Thank you for telling your story-in a way it has been a guide for me as adulthood has taken hold and it has definelty helped to console me today.
A story from Elizabeth about Gracie aka "The female Marley"
posted 11/21/2011
Dear John, I have wanted to share our story of Gracie for a few months now and after our crazy day with Gracie yesterday i decided that tonight was the night! I have seen Marley and Me on the big screen and loved the truth about labs that so many people never get to see, the mischevious side. I was raised with labs and love them as if they were family. I have shared in your sorrow of having to make that life changing decision to let an animal go in peace. I am sorry for your loss. As i was reading your blog i realized that after Marley you got another lab named Gracie, well i know that they have peacefully left you but don't be too discouraged b/c i am pretty sure that our Gracie's story will parallel Marley and hopefully bring a smile to your face. Gracie is a 6 month old Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the first breed i have ever owned other than labs. Gracie is the love of our lives as we have no children and is proving fast that we may want to rethink having children after raising this little one! In the four months we have had her we have spent close to $800 dolars at the vet trying to figure out why she has horriable bowel problems, but that is the least of our worries. Gracie has a fetish with eating my soxs whole, in fact she has passed 1 and the other two, well they came back to us in the middle of the night! She has eaten my scarf, the corner of my fleece blanket, part of the kitchen sponge, chair stuffing on the regular, ripped out my earing, chewed the trim of the back door, ate a chunk of spakle off the wall and the klincher was last night when she broke through the glass door trying to let herself out to the back yard! My family and i refer to her as "The female Marley", she is a highley inteligent and extreamly headstrong animal that is to smart for her own good. I don't want to miss lead you to think that we are neglectful pet parents, she does all of this so quickly that its all gone before we can catch her. She LOVES LOVES LOVES swiming and dock jumping but hates going to the bathroom outside in the rain, GO FIGURE. Fortunetly she only needed four stiches in her paw and missed a major ligament by a fraction of a hair. We too live in the Lehigh Valley and the Halloween snow fall was Gracie's first experience with the snow...needless to say it was like winter swimming!! She loved it. I hope to keep you posted as our journey with Gracie continues through the years and i look forward to reading your new book. Thank you for all that you have shared about your pets and all the joy they brought to your life. Sincerly, Elizabeth
A story from John Fletcher about Charlie
posted 11/21/2011
I posted back on August 12, that our neighbors brought home a pure white Lab puppy...appeared to be about 8 weeks. I noticed they kept the pup unteethered in the front yard and with no one watching him. After 2-3 weeks Trouble(their name) started wandering in the neighborhood.
I came home after work and heard him barking out back. They had taken this beautiful youg pup and had him on an 8 foot leash tied to a large tree. This was late August in Alabama and its is hot and humid that time of the year.
He barked constantly day and night and several times I went to their back yard to unwrap his leash that got wrap around the tree. The only time they came out was to feed him and yell at him to stop barking.
Meanwhile, his barking upset me and my girlfriend. She has a 7 year old Golden Retriever and treats Singer like her son. Labor Day weekend, a tropical storm was due through the area and I wasnt going to let Trouble stay out back. I knocked on their door and asked if they wanted to keep the puppy, and the grandmother who ansered said no.
Her daughter brougt the pup home as a gift for her six month daughter.....well duhhhh that wasnt smart. Grandma said the puppy was into everything and didnt get along with her small dog and would wonder off, so they chained trouble out back...day and night.
I told her I would love to have the puppy and she gave him to me.
I took the puppy on labor Day and named him Charlie. he looks like a Charlie....now a growing gangling goofy but very well behaved 45 pounder. Charlie is all white except for a few brown splotches on his ears. The vet thinks he may have a little Retreiver in him but is mostly Lsb.
Other than digging up our trees, chewing extension cords and computer wires and remote controls, etc etc... ;)>, Charlie is a great dog.
He never barks, and is about as laid back a 4-5 month puppy that Ive ever seen.
Everytime I think about Charlie being tied 24/7 to a tree in the middle of an Alabama summer, i think about the millions of pets in this country that may have it worse.
Charlie is living the good life now and always will.
John
