I just finished reading Marley and Me this morning by John Grogan.  I'd mentioned it a couple weeks ago when I first purchased it, but I'm so impressed that I thought it deserved it's own blog today. 

As I'm sure you've gathered, I'm a huge animal lover and that may be why this particular book resonated with me the way it did.  But it was more than that and I strongly recommend reading it even if you're not quite the fool for animals that I am. 

Grogan's writing is prolific, poignant and humorous.  The laugh-out-loud parts (and there were many) were true belly laughs.  The sad parts....well, just have a box of tissues nearby.  This author has that magical way of stirring your emotions with a simple thing like words.  And I guess I'm not alone on my feelings for this book.....I just checked this morning and it's ranked #6 in sales on Amazon, so guess a lot of people feel the way I do.

Poor Marely was a truly dysfunctional dog but what he lacked in obedience, he certainly made up for with loyalty and deep devotion.  And I give the Grogan's credit....they didn't abandon Marley when he flunked out of obedience class or ruined curtains, carpets and assorted household items....they kept him, and loved him as the true member of the family that he was.

Grogan is a columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer and when Marley passed on at age 13, he wrote a column about Marley and the grief that followed.  He was overwhelmed with the emails and phone calls he received on that one column......Nearly 800 people had been compelled to contact him.  What an incredible tribute to Marley and both Marley and Grogan deserve to be on the NY Times best seller list for the story.  There was one email he received that I thought was one of the best things I've heard in ages and I quote from his book that email:  From Connie:  "It's just the most amazing thing to love a dog, isn't it?  It makes our relationships with people seem as boring as a bowl of oatmeal."  If you're a dog lover.......you'll have to agree with that one!

And on to the Duncan Update.......and yes, I AM bragging here!  Duncan slept through the night last night, on only his 4th night here.  I put him in his crate at 10:30, he whimpered a bit, I used my stern voice and 5 minutes later he was asleep and slept till 6:15 this morning!  Needless to say, I'm hoping this will now be the norm.  He's sure a great little puppy.

Well, that's all the canine talk for today.  Enjoy your Thursday with the pure joy that our canine friends always seem to have. See you tomorrow.........