Bay Area Book Tour 2018: Going Home

Saturday, September 15 

All good things come to an end, sadly enough. This book tour was also my vacation time, and although giving concerts and lectures might seem like “work,” for me it was fun and relaxing, a change of pace from my regular routine at both my OCP day job and my weekend parish responsibilities. During this remarkable week, I was able to sell tons of books, do research at GTU library for my next books, visit my favorite city in the world (San Francisco!), eat in great restaurants, spend time with treasured friends, and meet new friends. 

Alas, it would soon be time to say goodbye to my friends, George the Dog and Steve the Cat. We had a couple of fun final days together, playing catch and just hanging out at the house. While I was counting cash and checks to deposit at the bank (a decidedly happy task), Steve kept hopping on top of my pile of dough. George just wanted to go outside and play. 

There were plenty of things to do around the house: laundry, cleaning up the boys’ mess of shredded shipping paper, and packing. It’s remarkable how animals can sense when a favorite human is going to leave them. Steve kept hopping into my suitcase as I tried to pack my clothes. Is that a universal feline instinct? George was moping with his head down on the floor. Animals know. 

Kevin and Siena weren’t returning until Tuesday so they arranged for another friend to take care of their pets after I left. As I wrote a note for her on the kitchen table, Steve hopped up and rubbed his head against my writing hand. I let him sit on my lap as he purred away. It was time to go to Oakland Airport and I summoned Uber. 

I sadly put Steve in the bathroom and then turned my attention to my moping George. As I sat on the kitchen floor to be at his level, he walked up to me and put his front paws on my shoulders, almost like a hug. Such a loving dog! He wasn’t making this easy. 

“Goodbye, Georgie,” I said with tears in my eyes as I gently patted his head. “I’ll be back. I promise!” After closing the front door, I waited at the porch for my Uber car. My heart was breaking as George whined and barked for me while he watched me though the front window. As my Uber car drove away from the house, I was crying softly. 

Animals are such a gift from God. I received so many blessings from this book tour but George and Steve made my stay in Danville especially fun and memorable. Thank you, Kevin and Siena, for letting me stay at your beautiful home and for sharing your beloved George and Steve with me. They touched my heart in an unexpected way and I am truly grateful.

“Ask the beasts and they will teach you the beauty of this Earth.” 

-Saint Francis of Assisi