Have you seen this man and dog photo yet?

As you know, I am always looking for things that inspire me. Things that touch me or make me laugh or that make me pause and say, “Wow.”

A lot of times I will share these things with you. Sometimes I share a quote or a beautiful piece of writing. Sometimes it’s a book I’ve read or one I’ve written, or something I’ve learned after writing for so many years.

I wanted to share this photograph with you because it really shows how sometimes an image can capture something that would be very hard to say in words.

However, if you add the words to the image, there is a powerful story here. Check it out:

John Unger just wanted a friend to take a nice photo of him and his 19-year-old arthritic dog, Schoep, before it was too late. He got that photo — and world validation, too. When Unger’s friend, professional photographer Hannah Stonehouse Hudson, posted the unusual photo — of Unger holding his sleeping dog in the waters of Lake Superior — on her Facebook page it went viral. A week later, the photo had been shared 156,911 times, prompted 28,695 comments and received more than a quarter million “likes”. Now, Unger shares how the photo — and his dog — have both been turning points in his life: { read more }

 

I have two rescue dogs, Emma and Jack, and every time I see this photograph I tear up. Emma is thirteen years old, which is old for a dog, and she’s slowing down, like we all do when we age. I love this dog, and I dread the day we get to the point of the photo. At the same time, I’m very grateful to have had this many years with my dear Emma.

Do you have a pet that has made a difference in your life? If so, I’d love to hear from you.

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P.S. Check out the new design of my website. It’s still a work-in-progress, and I welcome your thoughts.

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P.P.S. Wildflower’s story is still out there and going strong. I just heard from another reader today who thanked me for writing it. It’s always such an honor to hear from readers. xo

The Secret Sense of Wildflower

“…astute observations and wonderfully turned phrases, with nary a cliche to be found. She could be an adolescent Scout Finch…A quietly powerful story, at times harrowing but ultimately a joy to read.”

– Kirkus Reviews (starred review) To read the entire Kirkus review go here.