Monday, January 12, 2009

The Christmas Canine



50% Lab, 50% Plot hound and 100% love, Alice arrived at our home on Christmas Eve—a present for ourselves. Although her reign in her new home lasted only three short days, adopting Ali was the best mistake I ever made but also one of my biggest errors in judgement.

After four hours of walking her across our backyard on Christmas night--begging her to do her thing, my husband and I concluded we were too old to babysit another two-year-old, even if this time it was a dog. What ever made me think another pet would solve our loneliness at the holidays? Instead, I made it worse. After depositing Alie back with her foster parents, we caught a flood of tears with discarded Wendy's napkins.
But I learned a valuable lesson that day--I can't relive the past no matter how much I might try.

Getting a dog at our age was an error in judgement. The experience made me recall other errors of judgement I've made--with my writing career.


Like the time my romance book was accepted--last year on Valentine's day. By September, the publisher kindly let me out of the contract because of some changes in her company. If I had only consulted a lawyer before I signed, I might have seen my book in print next year.


Sometimes I move forward with my heart and not my head.


Thankfully, the outcomes aren't always bad. I lost a tidy sum of money on the dog and I had to tell all my friends that no, there's no book out yet, but isn't that part of life--the lessons we learn?


Hoping we all move forward this week and let go of any bad memories. Write those stories instead of reliving them.

13 comments:

Janna Leadbetter said...

Aw, my heart is sad for you, Terri. I'm sorry it didn't work out with Alice. And with the book. But you keep writing, and your dream will happen!

Kathleen said...

Too true! I could write a book on my numerous bad judgements - which serve me now (most of the time) as hysterically funny foibles.

Bless you!
Kathleen

Angie Ledbetter said...

Don't ya hate the life lessons that bite ya in the bahonkus? Sorry for the canine experience. (Maybe a new pup next time?) :) ((((((Terri)))))

Jenni James said...

Aww.. Everything happens for a reason. At least you were wise enough to realize the challenge and take the dog back, so everyone would be happier! And man, this publishing business can kick ya good can't it? I'm learning. LOL! Good luck with selling it!

Yolanda said...

Terri,

Great wisdom!

Love,
Yolanda

Tracy said...

Boy, that's tough! Sorry the dog didn't work out for you. Life lessons really can be tough. Thank you for sharing both your struggles and your victories with us. Blessings!

Anonymous said...

My heart aches for you. Why are good lessons so hurtful? In the end, God is the only perfect solution. And yet, we can't snuggle with him like a sweet lab.

Melissa Amateis said...

I'm so sorry it didn't work out with the dog - my mother had a similar experience. She had wanted a dog for so long since she lived by herself, but then she soon realized that she was at a point in her life where she couldn't properly care for a dog. It was hard for her to let him go, but he went to a very good home.

BeckyJoie said...

I'm sorry to hear about the dog situation. Don't feel bad about being someone who acts out of your heart. That is one of the qualities that makes you such a sweet person and friend to so many.

Vickie said...

Sometimes I move forward with my heart and not my head........there was a turning point in my life when I realize that as well. I was making a lot of decisions out of how I felt and not out of wisdom. The end results were very painful sometimes, so I can understand how you felt when having to make the decision to let the dog go.

The most important thing is that you grow a bit with each experience.

Blessings,
Vickie

Kathryn Magendie said...

So sorry about the dog -- but, you made such a wise decision! how many would have kept the dog and resented it?

As for your book - I don't know what happened, but, just don't give up on your dream - if one publisher wanted it, another one will!

Jessica Nelson said...

Wow, sorry about the dog. Two year olds are tough. I know!
And I'm super sorry to hear about the romance. That must have been horrible.
I'm glad that you seem optimistic though.

Stonefox said...

Wow. You are able to see the value in your mistakes quickly, and that is a gift. But even more so is your ability to move past them and not "relive" them, but write them. What profound advice, Terri! Keep pressing forward, my friend! You have a whole bunch of us ready to buy your book when it gets printed!