Today is Celebration Day. I celebrate Maria. My agent loves the first chapter of my book on Simon, Red and Rocky (out in 2014) and called it “gorgeous.” I am getting galleys soon of my next book “Second Chance Dog,” a love story, a book coming out in October about me and Maria and Frieda. I am learning how to live my life in creativity, compassion and responsibility. I am sleeping well, almost every night. I am finding people in my life – friends. I get support every day from good and bounded people who care about me. I love my new farm, the donkey’s soft brays (not Simon). I have a love dog who makes me smile whenever I look at her, and the Helldog Frieda guards me while I write and keeps all those trucks away from the house. I have a wonderful new dog, who is my partner and my shadow. And I even love a cat.

I celebrate my camera and the miraculous gift it gives me of taking the images and feelings in my head and transmitting them to the world.  I celebrate my blog, heading into its sixth year, leading me into the new world – Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter. I even love my new contributions button which will keep my blog strong and free and I celebrate being able to be paid for what I do – a celebration of growing up. And I celebrate Maria, who has brought light and love into my life, every hour of every day. I celebrate a love that only grows and deepen. Each morning, perhaps, a day of celebration. Life is a gift. All of it. Life is a festival. Every day.