A Man and his Dog (part 1)

“No one’s family is normal. Normalcy is a lie invented by advertising agencies to make the rest of us feel inferior.” – Calire LaZebnik

Accidentally bumping into an old friend or a long-lost relative is one of the joys of life. It has been one of the blessings of being a self-published author having to meet people everywhere, to offer them my business card and to promote my book. I have met and renewed acquaintances with so many marvelous people and animals in the six weeks since my book has been published.
While in Regina, Saskatchewan on a recent book promotion tour we stayed at the Country Inn and Suites. During and after the complimentary breakfast hours I took the opportunity to offer my business card to several patrons. Some were not interested, but many more were avid readers and keenly interested in my book. One woman asked for two cards because her nephew was planning on writing a book and he might learn from my experiences. A few minutes later she came back to me wanting to purchase a book and asking me if I was related to a certain person with the same last name. I said, "Yes." and described the relationship. She replied that she was my relative's cousin.
Later that same morning we were just leaving the hotel. Seeing a woman sitting by herself in the foyer, I offered her my card and asked her if she likes to read. Oh, yes, she was an avid reader. She took one look at my card and said, "I know you!" It turned out that when we were children we went to the same church in Kuroki. As we talked, I learned from her that my sister sang at her wedding, that she resided in the same city as my parents had after my mother's stroke, that she had occasionally visited with my parents and that she had attended my mother's funeral. I had not knowingly seen this lady in the last 55 years, yet we had so many connections.
There are so many other similar incidents I could relate. Our lives are so interconnected. We tend to be suspicious of strangers; we tell our children not to talk to strangers; we wonder about the authenticity of people of different colour, ethnicity or religion. Yet people are only strangers if we do not make the effort to make them friends.
"Browser" is the name of my serious looking canine friend on the cover of my book. In my book promotion travels, Browser found Rusty, one of his long lost relatives. Just like Browser on my book cover photo, Rusty has a vision problem and wears corrective lenses. For now here is a photo of Rusty, but very shortly Rusty and his owner will be the stars of one of my upcoming blogs.
Peace be with you and yours!
Gerald M. Sliva
Still Barking

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