steinbeck is one of my favorite authors...and that is my favorite work of his...what a great book...i have an old paperback copy from about 30 years ago and i recently splurged on a new one

i have written some short stories about adventures i have had with my dogs...and how they have helped me heal..especially my chesapeake bay retriever miss casey...she was a rescue puppy who herself had been abused...i like to think we each helped each other heal...what a great dog she was...she passed a year ago september and is sorely missed

i enjoy travelling with my dogs...it reminds me to go slow and to be open to experience things with all my senses...the way they do...i think the same is true when meeting people...they remind me to be open to the whole person...not just the physical...

i try to be in tune with how my dogs react...most of the time they are wise and their instincts are true....(altho the demon beast basset youngster would sell his soul for food)

anyway..back to travels with charley..something i always do with my guys is that i always stop in a new state and allow them to annoint a tree...i figure they should be permitted to announce their arrival to a new area (i seem to recall steinbeck let charlie do the same)