Hi Everyone, The BMD Club of Greater Seattle had an information booth on Saturday at "Paws for the Holidays" (a pet-oriented craft fair and public education day in Tacoma, WA) We were also selling items to support the BMDCA Lobby Effort. I met a wonderful woman there who was autographing and selling her book "PARTING WORDS/PARTING WAYS: Saying Good-bye to Your Pet." Laura Ritter Carlson runs a feline rescue organization. Her book is very touching and full of a variety of ways to help deal with the painful loss of a best friend. It has information on understanding grief, ideas for making the process more meaningful, lovely poems and quotes and many, many letters written by owners to their special pets. Proceeds from the sale of this book go to animal rescue. You can find more information at: http://www.cypresshouse.com/catalog/catalog.shtml
Early in the day, Laura came by our booth and was very interested in the BMDCA Lobby Effort. She bought two Lobby lapel pins, 2 wreaths, and lots of bake sale goodies. At the end of the day, she came by with a $50 check to donate to the Lobby Effort! What a lovely way to end the day. My heart goes out to everyone going through the grief of losing a best friend -- it is part of life and, though very painful, not something any of us would choose not to experience, given that doing so would mean choosing to have lived without knowing the joy of that life and love and friendship. Berner wags, Suzanne Hostetter Rochester WA
