Saying Goodbye

Kasey came to us almost 10 years ago. We'd been casually thinking of getting a dog, so when a friend had to give up his 5 year old lab/retriever cross because his children had developed allergies, we "borrowed" her for a weekend and never gave her back.

She was a great family dog, who loved to play fetch and had a weakness for turkey scraps. She kept me company in the kitchen when I cooked and especially enjoyed carrots and broccoli--but not celery or cauliflower. She loved to ride in the canoe and go camping, and right up to the end had a passionate hatred for squirrels.

Making the decision to say good bye is never easy, but when her arthritis grew so back she could no longer stand on her own we knew it was time.

We will miss her, while treasuring our memories.

I am also preparing to say goodbye to my most recent manuscript. While not nearly as heart-wrenching as saying goodbye to a beloved pet, I will miss spending time with my characters. I've seen them grow and change, and I've enjoyed guiding their actions so they are ready to accept the true love they both deserve. This close to the end, my writing pace really slows down. It's so important to get it just right--to make sure the conclusion fits my characters and their personalities, and is fulfilling--for them, and my readers. 


For me, this is the hardest writing in the entire book, but also the most rewarding.

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