Dogs and the People Who Need ThemWord文档下载推荐.docx

1、 Join the conversation!Dear GoodLetter readers,The silence on the other end of the phone said it all.Finally, my fathers voice, a sound of reason for my then 19 years of life, began to speak.George, I dont think this is a very good idea.He continued. I should not have adopted the Golden retriever pu

2、ppy who was, at the time, snuggled up asleep across my feet. Nineteen-year-old college sophomores who have just joined a fraternity and teetered on expulsion from lack of studies dont need another distraction. Its not wise, and its not fair to the dog.His logic, as always, was impeccable. But this t

3、ime, something was different. He ended up being wrong.Something changed in me when Jumpin Jack Jasper bounded into my life. I wont lie and say I suddenly woke up with a sense of responsibility suddenly enveloping my every breath. Nothing comes that easily.I had grown up in two middle-class homes whe

4、re I was showered with love but, because of my parents divorce, had almost no responsibilities. No one expected me to do much more than take of myself. I was not needed by anyone.Jasper whimpered through that first night. For the first few hours, I wondered whether I had erred. Was my father right?S

5、ometime before the sun rose, I realized something. This little ball of fur needs me. I told myself, Watson, you gotta get it together.Feeding, exercise, training. These were my chores, and those were his needs I had to fulfill. There was more. My days of last-second trips were over. I had to make su

6、re Jasper was welcome, too. And while he didnt say much, he took part in every conversation about our future life together.How close was the nearest park to any potential apartments? Did the neighbors mind dogs? Did they have any unfriendly animals of their own?As Jasper aged, my concern became wond

7、ering if a potential home had too many stairs for him to climb. Was there an elevator?I must say, it really is something to be needed. And as Jasper taught me his lessons of life, I learned volumes about myself. I liked to help others. I gained a special satisfaction from helping those who couldnt h

8、elp themselves.I didnt become a reporter because of Jasper, but hes one reason why I have stuck with it for a dozen years and will likely continue for decades to come.Jasper passed away a year ago, succumbing to a rapidly spreading cancer that turned my powerful and noble friend, for years the one c

9、onsistent part of my life, into a frail, trembling shell of his former self.When the time came for a vet to help him reach his personal ending, he looked up at me one last time from the floor where I crouched beside him. His beautiful brown eyes perked up for me and then closed forever. I had never

10、cried - make that blubbered - for anyone like I did for Jasper.I thought to myself, I wish I had done more. I should have given him more brushings or the massages that he liked so much in his older years.It was a final lesson. While it sounds clich閐, I decided to drink in all that life offered, espe

11、cially in friendship and personal relationships.The reality of his final lesson revisited me just this past weekend. My boss, a true pillar of journalism named Lawrence Young, died at the age of 47 on Saturday of an apparent heart attack. He was my biggest advocate and as I have learned in recent da

12、ys, a mentor for legions of other journalists around the country.Its how I can stomach Lawrences death. He was always teaching, always pushing me for more. I gobbled up his lessons, which he offered up over afternoon sessions in his office. Certainly, I wanted more from him, and of course, I never e

13、xpected him to die so soon. My tears told me that.But however brief the time, Lawrence was there to touch my soul and fill my mind. I can only be glad I was so fortunate to have listened and learned as often as I did.Ten Ways To Have A Happy Holiday Season （Really）by Kerry LaBountyPosted December 4,

14、 2001 A personal coach says that if you just remember ten simple things, theres no way you wont have an extraordinary holiday season. Contribute your thoughts to the conversation.1. Dont should on yourself.The holidays are a time of year when we think it reasonable to expect even more of ourselves than usual. Try to remember that no one can make you serve a 12-course meal to 15 people - you can choose not to, and believe it or not, your guests will live and even have a good time. If you dont enjoy sending holiday cards, dont. Or send meaningful handwritten cards