Time Fer an Update

With all this talk in the book about rocks changing destinies and such I often lose sight of the pebbles that exist inbetween.

I'm taking a week off from the book tonight but will resume next Friday, March 8th, with Chapter 3 and instead will take a tic or two and update everyone with a brief, behind-the-scenes look at what's going on and what's in store.

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A Texas sized 'Thank y'all' from Yer Big Dog

Since I started posting the book here, we're now getting over 1,500 page views per week, a trend that's on the uptick.  I thank you because the decision to publish on the blog and for free, especially when taking into consideration all of the people who have collaborated on the book, wasn't easy.  But I think my instincts to do so are proving out.

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How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Yer Big Dog 

I always assumed it was self evident, by virtue of my continued commitment to this cause, or through my actions and writings, that I'm a lifer.  Where I come from, when you commit yourself to a cause greater than yourself, it's lifelong.  When you love, it's eternal.  

In some shape, form, or flavor everything I do from here on out til Yer Big Dog floats down that great river, is in memory of the two I have lost, for the love of all of our companions who cannot speak for themselves, from the faith and certainty of my life's mission, and with my firmest hope and belief that we will one day overcome this disease.  

I am inundated with so many ideas and possibilities that there are days when it becomes almost unbearable but they all serve a single, united purpose.

I am reminded of a scene from the movie, Shadowlands, wherein which Anthony Hopkins, portraying C.S. Lewis, is struggling to make sense of it all after the love of his life was diagnosed with cancer..  Trying to comfort Lewis, a friend of his says, "I know how hard you've been praying and now God is answering your prayers."

"That's not why I pray", he answers.  "I pray because I can't help myself.  I pray because I'm helpless.  I pray because the need flows out of me at all times, waking and sleeping."

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It's the Pebbles, Baby. 

For the almost five years now since I started my mission, I've kinda had a hard time navigating in this sound-bytey, fire and forget, 140 words or less new, new world we live in.  This story is (1) damn, dreadfully difficult to cram down into micro moments and (2) perpetual and with no hope of stopping anytime soon, and (3) unscripted and at times, messy messy messy.    

I'm trying to do a better job of talking more about the pebbles and taking a long needed break from Facebook has helped me put it all into perspective and come up with a plan.   Still, there are a few things I need to set straight.  

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2 Million Dogs. 

Though I am the founder of the foundation, I am not on the payroll nor the Board.  The decision to have no official capacity in the brainchild that began with me was a tough one but I did so for a few reasons.  First of all, I need the latitude to fight for this cause unencumbered. free of restraint, and savagely when necessary.  

Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, is that an organization, a cause, must always be greater than the one that began it.  We've been given a perfect example of that this past year in the cancer world. 

I have complete faith and confidence in the management and leadership of the Foundation as this past year has been a banner one for 2 Million Dogs in every respect.  

But I am starting to feel like Yer Ole Dog instead of a Big'Un.  So...

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Japan.  

My decision to walk across Japan has baffled some and flummoxed others so it's time for me to speak about that.  The burning question is 'Why?'  

Now that the 2 Million Dogs Foundation is doing great, I have to think about myself and how I can, in my own way, continue the legacy that began with Malcolm.  

Publishing the book. Check.  Telling this story on film.  Check.  Working on many other fronts for the cause.  Check.  

But what about me?  After I lost Murphy I've slowly been coming to certain realizations about who and what I am.  

I'm not meant to live a sedentary life and it's time for us to get back on the road and continue our travels.  Why Asia is our next adventure isn't entirely clear and certain to me.  But as my instincts served us well thus far, it is and that's that.  

Plans for Japan will be laid out here as we make our preparations.  I've made a commitment to be a part of the November 2013 Puppy Up! walk after which we will walk from the southern most cape of Kyushu to the northernmost in Hokkaido.  It won't be like the one here in the states.  

One critical side point; it will in no way be financed by 2 Million Dogs.  

I left Austin with a couple hundred bucks in my pocket in 2008 and this, too, will be as organic.

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Shadowlands.

I'm no C.S. Lewis but like him, every second of my every day of my every year from here on out is devoted to this cause because I can't help myself. 

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Next week in Chapter 3 of 'The Rock', is all about that threshold we cross from being a pet owner to a pet parent. 

Japan. Je ne sais quoi

Why walk across Japan?  

The first most obvious reason is that cancer is pandemic and I must take our message and mission international and next year I go to do just that.  

The second reason is Japan is the most progressive society when it comes to animal rights.  When you lose a companion animal federal law mandates a day off for mourning.  Having been there before, it's more than that.  I saw the statue of Hachiko at Shibuya Station (LINK) and his story has stayed with me since even well before Malcolm first came into my life.

Japan is also a technologically advanced society and it'll be a fact finding mission for me about canine cancer as well.  What's the incidence and prevalence of cancer?  What is the exposure to environmental risks and what's the difference in diet and nutrition?  These things I shall discover.  

There are a few other reasons that, well, I'll talk about later.  

The nearby image is a picture I crudely drew in my moleskin of our next challenge, walking from the Southern most island, Kyushu, to the Northern most, Hokkaido.  From cape to cape it's roughly 2,000 miles.  

Murphy San ミッスタ ー マーフィー

ミッスタ ー マーフィー

I host a monthly Meetup Group, Sushi.Boston, with over 80 members and this past Thursday was a special event at Stephanie's house in honor of the companions we have recently lost.  

On the menu was a Lily blossom - a tempura onion (like an Awesome blossom) with sushi rice, spicy ranch and a pan seared scallop on top.  The inspiration for this dish was when, we first met her on a walk at Shelby Forest in Memphis, I picked a water lily blossom for her.  Lily passed away last week after a long battle with cancer.  

Next on the menu was Sunny Side.  Whenever I make sushi I'm always thinking about different ways of doing things.  We lost Sunny last week as well and aside from her beautiful spirit, her most striking feature was two different colored eyes.  So in honor of her, I made a Hamachi (Yellowtail) and Maguro (Bluefin) sushi with a single cucumber spear and a Wasabi rice cracker with tobiko on top.  

And since it was also the anniversary of my boy's passing last week, on the menu was Murphy san sushi sammich - pictured top and left.  Many of you know about his notorious sammich from previous posts.  I topped a near burnt tortilla brushed with hot chili oil with red scallions, tobiko filled avocados, cucumbers, and tuna dressed with my special spicy soy sesame mayo sauce, a recipe that would've made him proud.  

From my limited understanding of the Japanese culture, they try to balance beauty and sadness in everything they do.  It feels like lifetimes ago when I wrote a blog when Murphy was still with us (LINK) about an untranslatable expression 'Mono no aware'.  

Even, after my darkest hours have receded, it guides me still.