Stories that Matter

So My Mom Wrote A Book…

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Hey, everybody! This is Noah. (I’m the adorably handsome dog in the picture).

I’m hijacking my mom’s blog today, because, quite frankly, enough is enough.  I’m used to getting all the attention around here, seriously, and lately? Well, my mom wrote this book. And it’s getting AAAAALLLLLL the attention.

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That’s my Mom. That’s her book. Look how happy she is. What is that about? It’s not like a bone. Or leftover meatloaf (I’m not really allowed that). It’s not even close to peeing on a tree. Wait . . . I’ll be right back . . .

I mean, what’s the deal with this dumb book?

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When their tragic past begins to resurface, can he help her remember the things she can’t?

Set on the island of Nantucket, The Things We Knew paints a picture of a family that is far from perfect. The Carlisle siblings have long abandoned the home they grew up in, their lives now a paradox to their idyllic childhood memories. As their father’s health declines and the family debt rises, they each return to the island to assist their youngest sister, Lynette, and must all come to terms with the history that connects them, confront the memories that haunt them, and question all the things they thought they knew.

Yawn.

Mom thinks this is an adorable picture of me. She thinks it looks like I’m checking out her book with great interest. Actually, I’m wondering what paper tastes like. (Don’t tell). Because I don’t really get it. She’s been talking to me about this story for a looooong time. (Yes, she talks to me. I find it best to wag my tail and nod) A lot of the time she just doesn’t make sense. Supper Time, Walk, Swim . . . those words make sense. But when she starts yammering about plot holes and deadlines and wanting to jump from tall buildings, well, there’s an itch I gotta scratch.

“Are you even listening to me?” I hear that a lot.

And whatever these deadline things are? I hate them. I will devour them ferociously in one bite if I ever find out what they are. Because they glue Mom to her computer, (like she’s not already always on it), and she basically doesn’t move. For days. Then the mumbling starts. And sometimes she cries. And . . . a couple times she says some words I don’t think she’s supposed to say. But who am I to judge? I pee on trees and chase pigeons. I would probably pee on this book if I had the chance.

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See this picture? Oh, you will. She’s posting it pretty much all over the internet. I even have my own hashtag. #noahbestdogever

Well, what can I say? It fits.

Let’s be honest, I’m freaking adorable, so I can’t blame her. (It’s actually a much better picture than the one of her by herself, if I do say so). But a dog’s gotta have some limits, right? And this??

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WHAT. IS. THIS. MOM??!!

I feel so used.

Do all you writer people act the same way or is my mom just weird? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I know she loves me. And that’s probably understating it. She has some human children who pretend to love me when she’s around, but I’ve heard them talking when they think I’m not listening, and word on the street is that if we were all on a sinking ship and there was only room for Mom and one more person on the lifeboat, she would choose me over them. Did I mention my stinking adorability factor? Probs has something to do with it. The humans are cute, but let’s face it . . . I win.

So here’s the thing, really. I love my Mom. Not as much as she loves me, but I do love her and I would bark a few times in her defense. She lets me up on the bed when Dad gets up in the morning. And she feeds me. And . . . sigh . . . she used to play with me and go for walks with me a lot more, but why beat a dead horse? But this book thing is stressing her out. It oozes from her and makes me sad. I don’t like stress. Something about release day being right around the corner and this and that and blah, blah, blah. So, I thought I’d get you all to help my mom calm the flip down about all this, tell her to take some deep breaths, and maybe take me for a walk or a swim, because that’d be good for both of us.

Tell my mom it’s all gonna be okay, she doesn’t need to stress, everybody will love her book, even though I don’t, but to each his own, right? And if they don’t, well so what? It’s not the end of the world. She still has me.

You can even promise to buy her book on July 12th, if you want. Hey, whatever it takes.

So thanks for listening. I’ll be back with an update and hopefully a saner, less stressed Mom to tell you about.

I hear her next book has Border Collies in it. I’m all over that one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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15 Comments

  1. slhigdon20 on June 14, 2016 at 11:09 am

    Thanks for sharing your feelings, Noah. 🙂 Tell mom I have pre-ordered her book and look forward to reading it!
    #dogloversunite 🙂

    • Cathy West on June 14, 2016 at 11:25 am

      Oh, that is awesome. This will make her very happy. 🙂 And I will reap the benefits!
      Love, Noah.

  2. Andrew Budek-Schmeisser on June 14, 2016 at 11:14 am

    Noah, you bring sanity to the Internet. (This is Sylvia and Ladron talking, Andrew’s service dogs. We have quieted him down with duct tape.)

    One thing we suggest is to hide things. When Andrew could still work on aeroplanes we saw how it made him tired and too sad to play, so we hid his tools. Maybe you could hide Mom’s computer when she says ‘deadline’????

    • Cathy West on June 14, 2016 at 11:27 am

      Oh, you guys are smart! Hmm. I have a feeling Mom’s editor wouldn’t like that. And Mom would probably go out and buy a new laptop right away. Perhaps if I just stand by her side and pant incessantly she will eventually get the message . . . but we are sitting outside now while she is eating, so maybe things are improving . . . oh, a pigeon! Gotta run!

      • Andrew Budek-Schmeisser on June 14, 2016 at 11:33 am

        May we suggest that you offer the ‘editor’, whatever THAT is, your highest praise…a true paean, a golden anointing.

        With love, Ladron and Sylvia (who saved Dad again yesterday when he quit breathing…so do we deserve a pizza for dinner?)

      • Cathy West on June 14, 2016 at 11:47 am

        Yes, you should get five pizzas. Each. Does that stuff make you barf? I always barf when I eat stuff I shouldn’t. Then Mom has to get up at 3AM. For some reason she’s never happy about that. 🙁

  3. Bonnie Roof on June 14, 2016 at 11:29 am

    This post made me laugh out loud – loved it and shared it on Facebook. SO cute – congrats on ‘The Things We Knew’, Cathy!! It won’t be long now – better make sure Noah also understands about awards, interviews, and other time-consuming activities that come after publication, lol!!

    • Cathy West on June 14, 2016 at 11:49 am

      Hi, Miss Bonnie! I will let my Mom know of your enthusiasm for my greatness. And I’m all for awards and all that other stuff, whatever it is, just as long as Mom still makes time for me. 🙂
      Love, Noah

  4. Amy Leigh Simpson on June 14, 2016 at 11:36 am

    This is the cutest thing ever!

    • Cathy West on June 14, 2016 at 11:50 am

      Thanks Miss Amy. While I was creeping my Mom’s facebook, I saw you have three little humans that look like they could run pretty fast. Would you bring them over to my house one day so I can herd them? I miss sheep. Not that I have ever seen one in my life, but I hear it’s what I’m supposed to do. Herd sheep. One has to improvise.

  5. Samantha B on June 14, 2016 at 3:41 pm

    Well Noah aren’t you the best dog ever! Tell you mom her books sounds great and everyone will be sure to love them. No need to stress about that it’s a sure thing!
    And drop by the blog anytime, Noah, we love to hear from you too.

    • Cathy West on June 14, 2016 at 7:05 pm

      Thank you! I will tell her what a nice human you are. 🙂 Do you have food for me?

      • Samantha B on June 14, 2016 at 8:34 pm

        Haha sorry! I’m too far away to feed you… You should ask your mom 😉

  6. […] hahaha!! I loved the blog post that “Noah” wrote for you back in June. He did seem completely unimpressed about the books but you could tell he […]

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