One Perfect Day

Last night I called Mom around 8:30 to ask a favor, but she couldn't come to the phone; she was looking for their dog Dotty. When Mom didn't call me back by 10:30, I thought it was a little strange, but figured that she didn't get the message. Jesse told me to give her a call, but I explained that to my mom, any time the phone rings between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am, it means that someone in the family has either been grievously wounded or is dead. So when my phone rang at 4:30, I knew it was bad news. Dotty was my brother Jake's dog. He got her when they moved into their house six years ago, and she's been his best friend ever since. We've taken her on every camping trip, and at Thanksgiving, we were seated around the table so that Dotty could get to me, because everyone knows I sneak her food from my plate, and she gets upset if she can't sit near me.

Two years ago or so, Dotty had a seizure and was diagnosed with diabetes. Since then, Mom and Jeff (and sometimes me) have given her two insulin shots a day. Despite their care, she developed glaucoma and became nearly blind. She had a hard time finding her way around and followed voices and shadows. Even though she was ill, she had the most amazing personality. She was sweet and loving. Dotty was the kind of dog that when you get a puppy you hope you will have. Completely devoted to her family, a little protective, and sweet. When Mia was little, she could sit on Dotty's back, and when Mia fell asleep on the floor, Dotty would curl up behind her and lay a paw over her, keeping her close.

Last night, they let Dotty outside to do her business, and somehow she lost the house. She couldn't find her way back, and Mom, Jeff, and Jake spent the entire night searching and calling for her. Jeff eventually found her a few miles away on the junction of a back road and the highway. Someone had hit her, and Dotty was killed. She was a true part of the family, and we will miss her terribly. To the person who hit her and drove away, shame on you! She had a collar with tags. There is no excuse. Jesse and I brought Charlie into bed with us last night and gave him lots of hugs. We realized that God has given us this dog to care for, and we need to be better caregivers. We haven't told the kids yet; we didn't want to send them off to school in tears. Especially Mia; this will be her first real experience with death.

If you aren't a dog person, this whole post probably seems a little strange. But if you've ever had a pet who was your best friend, you'll understand. And if you do, please say a prayer for Jake and Mia.

One Perfect Day by Lauraine Snelling is a powerfully moving book about how God can use all situations for good for those who believe. Two mothers each are planning one perfect day for their families, one perfect Christmas before things will change forever. For Nora Peterson, a perfect Christmas means gourmet cookies, a beautifully decorated house, and carefully purchased gifts for the last Christmas before her twin children, Christi and Charlie, are going away to college. Jenna Montgomery's perfect day is holding tight to each moment and trying to make each one matter as her daughter slowly dies while waiting for a heart transplant. One tragic accident will change how both of these women view one perfect day, and tragedy for one means rejoicing for the other. Snelling perfectly captures the pain of waiting for an organ transplant, along with the mixed emotions of while you pray for an organ for your loved one, you're praying for someone else to die. Nora's grief is also wonderfully described, as she withdraws from her family and tries to find something, anything to hold on to. Snelling doesn't take the easy way by having the two women meet and healing Nora's heart through Jenna's joy. That would be far too easy. Instead, Nora has to learn to live again, day by day, by trusting in God and having faith that His plans for her are good. Jenna also has to learn to let go of living in survival mode and starting to have dreams again. Snelling packs quite a punch in this novel; don't pass it up.

I'm running a book contest this week. If you'd like the chance to win a copy of Tamara Leigh's Faking Grace, drop me an email at christysbookblog (at) gmail (dot) com before 10 pm on Thursday, Dec. 4th. I'll announce the winner here on Friday. Good luck!

Wedding Cynicism

I'm running two reviews today, because the two books are similar in tone and I was frustrated with both of them. They are about weddings and what women do as brides. Although the themes are different, I was disappointed in the cynicism in which they view weddings and marriage. My wedding was near perfect. My one complaint was the weather, but it was an insignificant detail on the whole day. I loved shopping for my dress and ordering the flowers. It was expensive, but worth every penny. We didn't plan our wedding based on tradition or what the bridal magazines said we should do. It was planned to be an expression of ourselves and a way to show our family how much we loved them. I think that most people plan their weddings in the same way, and the way that these two authors treat weddings is a travesty.

One Perfect Day by Rebecca Mead is subtitled: The Selling of the American Wedding, and it's clear that's just how the author views weddings. They are a commodity to be marketed and sold. The public are dupes to the pressure from the wedding industry. Mead tracks different wedding traditions: registry, diamond ring, white dress, etc back to their roots as well as interviewing people in that particular industry to expose the motivations behind it and what makes it work. I've read other books in this genre: Flower Confidential tracks the flower industry, anything by Mark Kurlansky, and the one thing that makes those books enjoyable is their love or appreciation of the product. Mead's disdainful tone bleeds through on nearly every page. The only chapter in which she is kind is on photography, perhaps she was charmed by the ex-hippie couple photographers. Rather than the humorous yet insightful book this could have been, it comes off as a edict against the wedding industry and everyone who buys into it. Mead's description of her own wedding only confirms this. She was married at the courthouse wearing a simple non-wedding dress and had a party in her backyard with friends. Good for her! The American wedding should be anything that the couple wants it to be. Elopement, small and simple, huge and gaudy, goofy, romantic, anything goes. Mead could have celebrated this part of American culture, but instead she chose to damn it. There was some interesting info in the book but it was overwhelmed by Mead's derision.

The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer is the story of poor Genie Michaels who has long been the girlfriend of popular author Hugh Spencer. When Hugh proposes on live TV to his girlfriend, Genie is thrilled that he's finally popped the question. Unfortunately, it was to someone else. Genie's best friend Patty suggests that she pretend that she is engaged and go with the flow. Genie goes along with the crazy plan and things quickly spiral out of control as a wedding date is set and gifts start arriving. I thought the concept of this book was clever, but the execution was weak. Genie dives into the role of bride with glee. She works out with a personal trainer, buys a cheap cubic-zirconia ring and buys a house, all while dodging questions from her family and co-workers. The suspense about Hugh's new fiancee throws in a red herring. Patty becomes so infatuated with all of the attention that Genie is getting, she soon becomes "engaged" herself. A sub-plot involving Patty and Tom is overly obvious. Ultimately Genie finds the right man and the wedding goes off without a hitch. The trouble with the book is Strohmeyer's assertion that marriage doesn't really signify a new stage in a woman's life. Genie and Patty are angry that an engaged woman receives all sorts of attention and married couples get nice gifts for their home. They declare that it is unfair for a woman to have to get married to enjoy those kind of perks. This is a feminist message taken a little too far. Marriage is a major step in anyone's life, and family and friends celebrate that with attention and gifts. Genie is saved from being a complete jerk only because her father is extraordinarily wise. This was a great idea, but Genie takes it just a little too far and then tries to justify her actions. It's an entertaining read, partly just to see if Hugh and Genie both get their just desserts. We don't get to see Hugh get his, and Genie is rewarded. It's an odd theme for a book: lying to your friend and family is ok, as long as you feel you're justified.

We have an extremely busy weekend, and tonight we're actually going on a date! To a movie and dinner and everything! Can you tell I'm excited by the exclamation marks? I let Molly pick out my outfit, and she's loaning me her shoes for the night. Yes, the picture for today is our big day five years ago. Sorry about the poor quality, ok so maybe my other complaint about the day would be the photographer. :)