The characters of A Mother's Gift

I love dogs. They have been a part of my life since I was very young. We had a mutt named Lady, a poodle named Cocoa, 2 Shelty Collies named Alf and Ralph (of Green Acres fame), a Saint Bernard named Bruce, another poodle named Lady, and a corgi cross named Susan, technically my mother’s dog.

My last dog was Lucy, a Bichon Shitzu cross, our family dog. She shared my family’s life until about 2011 when she left us for dog heaven. I have chosen not to have another dog since then until I am more still, I like to travel.

I learned to sail a number of years ago because I read a book called The Voyage of the Northern Magic by Diane Stuemer. She wrote about her family’s decision to let go of their life in Ottawa and sail around the world. I read the book and was eager to try sailing for myself. And I did.

I took lessons in BC and Alberta. I sailed on small lakes in Alberta and big straits and seas in BC and the Caribbean. I bought two boats (because one is not enough) and enjoyed times on them with friends; idyllic sails on smooth waters or frantic panic on rough waters. I said goodbye to my last sailboat a year ago. It needed tender loving care in a shop under the hands of someone with the love and patience to restore her faults - a hull leak, in order for her to sail again.

They say a writer you should write what you know. So I do. I write about dogs and sailing in A Mother's Gift. I wrote about women too, but the dogs and sailboats weren't as complicated. I'll tell you about the women in my next post.

painting by Camille Murphy