Lessons From Lucy

Lessons From Lucy:   The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog by Dave Barry                Audio Book:  4 hours 1 minute     Hardback Book:  240 pages               

Dave Barry is feeling his age having turned 70 and realizing he hasn’t that many years left which gave him pause to try to see life through his best dog, Lucy’s eyes.   Having passed her 10^th birthday Lucy and Dave are the same age and with his immense dislike of mankind, he has decided to try seeing life from Lucy’s perspective.   Lucy is happy pretty much all of the time, she generally has good days all day long.   She stays young at heart because no matter what she is always ready to play.    She never stops having fun.    Lucy doesn’t worry about tomorrow.   She lives today and she lives every moment of today.   Lucy doesn’t hold grudges no matter if she is put off,  told off, shoved off, she still comes back, tail wagging with a big doggy smile in hopes maybe now she might get that pat on the head, belly rub or ball toss she is always hoping for.   Another of Lucy’s wise lessons is make new friends.    Personally, Dave Barry has all the friends and more than he really wants, but, Lucy is so happy making new friends.   She never turns down an opportunity to do so.   Most importantly, Lucy feels good in her own skin.    She doesn’t have to try to be something different, she is perfect just as she is.   She neither aspires to look or be different that what she is  and what she is in every way is enough.    She always has time to pay attention to the people she loves, in fact, nothing is more important than that.   Dave notes his frustration and quick anger, his dislike of people and being touched.   How many times work took and still sometimes takes precedence over the ones he loves, he is working on that but old habits are hard to break.    He is trying to add more fun to his life like the marching lawn mower group he is a part of who walk in parades (even President Obama’s inauguration celebration) doing formations and drills with their lawnmowers – kinds like the folks with the lawn chairs if you’ve ever seen that group.     He is trying to make himself call old friends he hasn’t talked to in years just to catch up and laugh over old times and share new times.   He is having a real tough time with that anger one but baby steps.    Lucy is such a loving teacher, I know she will forgive him his failings and continue to live the life and set the bar at being a role model that a loving pet companion does.   If only we all can aspire to the goodness and unconditional love found in our pets then the world really would be a better place.

I do highly recommend this one.   It shows the grace of dogs for our many shortfalls and what shining examples they are if only we will see.

 - Shirley J