cj Sez: GUIDING EMILY launches today! And Lyrical Pens
is happy to host the third in a three-part series by author Barbara Hinske, writing about her research for the novel.
Today's post is about Barbara's need (and maybe yours) for a box of tissues on Graduation
Day.
Have you ever
wondered about the making of a guide dog?
“From the puppy raiser family of
ten who had driven all the way from Texas to California, to the mother and
daughter who had surrendered their twenty-fifth puppy, the room was filled with
excitement as people waited for their star student to take the stage.
I was the first to arrive and selected a
seat in the back. The large room was filled with chairs arranged in a
semi-circle around a podium. I wanted to observe the graduates and watch the
reactions of the crowd. Attending this ceremony was part of the research for my
new book, Guiding
Emily.
I had been told that the afternoon would be
emotional and been asked if I’d brought tissues. I smiled and said “yes”, but I
didn’t think I’d need them. The puppy raiser families would be sad to say a
final goodbye to the dog they had spent a year or more loving and socializing. The
handlers receiving their new guides would be happy. I wasn’t prepared to witness
the bonds of human connection that had been forged or the outpouring of
selflessness, generosity, and compassion that defined every interaction.
When called to the podium, one of the
veteran puppy raisers told the audience that she was able to perform this
life-changing service by reminding herself that she had a puppy to love and not
a dog to keep. I sniffled.
Another group told us that they’d been in
constant contact with the handler who would be taking their puppy and now
considered him part of their large, happy family. With plans made for the guide
and handler to join them for Thanksgiving, we learned that these puppy raisers
had “adopted” eight other handler/guide couples. They saw each other on a
regular basis. I pulled out a tissue and dabbed at my eyes.
Next up was the fifty-something technology
giant executive who said that he was looking forward to going into his office
with his new guide—that she would encourage people to talk to him and help him make
friends at the office.
Had I ever avoided a blind co-worker in
another department because I felt awkward and didn’t know what to say?
Had I ever considered how isolated that must
have made the co-worker feel?
I removed my glasses and patted away tears on
my cheeks.
As the ceremony continued, I stopped observing
and became enveloped by the wellspring of joy and love that permeated the room.
I left with a handbag full of soggy tissues
and an uplifted heart.
Barbara Hinske is
an attorney who recently left the practice of law to pursue her career as a full-time
novelist. She is the author of the bestselling Rosemont series and the
murder mysteries in her ‘Who’s There?!’ collection. Her novella The
Christmas Club was made into a 2019 Hallmark Channel Christmas movie.
She inherited the fiction gene from her father who wrote
mysteries when he retired and told her a story every night of her childhood.
She and her husband share their own Rosemont with two adorable and spoiled
dogs. A true homebody, Barbara is besotted with decorating, entertaining, cooking,
and gardening.
Today is Launch Day for GUIDING EMILY.
To order your copy of this heart-warming story, click BUY
NOW
///
cj Sez: That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on
keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same, (Sending up prayers for your health
and safety.)
P.S.
My love story, “Love is Immortal” is one of the short
stories in the paranormal anthology BIENVENUE TO THE CHATEAU ROUGE. Here’s another
5-star review:
“This is a wonderful array of short stories about an awesome
hotel and an incredible staff.
Totally keeps your attention through each story.”
The anthology is available through these fine sites: https://books2read.com/u/bpOMw9?fbclid=IwAR3R2NTI8nH5U8JhXwJynbxkbYQhlK4H-sbTFU5YRhGDB2CocTPkdf8TSEE
TO ORDER my autographed books or any book of your choice
on-line from my favorite indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: The Haunted Bookshop
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What a wonderful report!
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