(One of my favorite photos of Joie.  She loved to sit by my screen door in my writing cottage and watch the birds splash in the bird bath right outside the door. )

Thank you to everyone who has emailed me expressing their excitement in the new book I’m working on, which I announced just a few days ago. It really means a lot to me to hear from you whether you are part of  my Facebook community, blog, or are a newsletter subscriber.

The working title is, Joie’s Gift- Finding Purpose in the Pause. As with working titles, that means it could change as I get into the heart of writing this book. When I said I’ve just begun, I truly have, with about 4,500 words written so far.

But I must correct myself in that I’ve been working on this new idea much longer than the actual writing, words typed into a word document, as it’s been swirling in my head for a little over two months.  And before that, I always hoped I’d have a new idea after writing Through Frankie’s Eyes, so in essence I never stop “writing.” I’m also starting to lean more toward a subtitle of Finding Meaning in the Pause. Will see as I keep going.

Today I want to write about the idea of closure after the death of a pet, after receiving an email from a loyal blog follower.  She is thrilled about me writing a new book (thank you) and went on to say, “a book that just might provide closure about Joie, because her early passing was a tragedy, and happened at the WORST possible time given how you were Over The Moon, about her being in (the movie) “The Surface”.”

I don’t feel this book is about helping me find closure. Though I felt so unprepared for her sudden death and deeply saddened losing Joie so unexpectedly, I came to eventually find peace, as well as many gifts that revealed themselves when I took the time to really give thought to her life, as well as, her death.  This is what I hope to share in my new book. The gifts that Joie gave me in helping me see a little deeper into myself. How important it is to take time to pause at certain times in our lives. The value and meaning we can gain in being still instead of rushing right back into “doing” again.

I also don’t even know if I truly believe there is such a thing as closure. I go back and forth in my mind about this one. For me, it feels more about finding acceptance and peace. It’s about looking for the gifts my animal friends have given me, whether they were here for a day or twenty years.  No matter the amount of time, when they leave, it is never gets easier to say goodbye.

As I’ve moved through the grieving process of each of my dog’s, I’ve found peace and comfort  in reflecting back on the lessons they taught me.  For me, those lessons never go away, because I am a changed and better person because of what they’ve taught me. I consider these gifts and gifts that continue to be a shining presence in my everyday life. For me, this means they live on always and I feel then there is no closure, but rather, gratitude that I was given the opportunity to be a part of their lives and learn from them.