Thoughts about Nothing Ventured
I’m not an expert on grief or rescue dogs, but a few things I know.
Grief: personal, endless, and no
one but the Lord has the patience or time to listen as often as we need to cry on that painful journey.
Dogs: ignorance is not illegal,
and countless animals are helpless victims with only our voices to speak for them. No one should own an animal (dog, cat, horse, gerbil)
if they can’t afford to feed it, give it appropriate veterinary care, and provide a secure environment with loving companionship,
same as children. But many people have children and don’t care for them, so why are we surprised when animals don’t fare so well?
We
live in a world with many worthy causes. By the time we earn a living and take care of the necessities of life, there is limited time
for leisure and volunteer activities. Those who love dogs and want to see the end to puppy mills, backyard breeders, abuse, and indifference
must put aside small disparities and work together. Loving owners, humane societies, rescue groups, and reputable breeders have a
common mission: protecting dogs—it doesn’t matter the breed or group striving to help. We can unite and make a difference or divide
and fall short.
There is a pale purple lead glass dish sitting in my 1810 mahogany china cabinet. The dish was carried from England
by my great-great-great-grandmother in her cloth bag; it’s all that remains of her life. It’s chipped, scratched, monetarily worth
nothing because of its condition; but when I hold it in my hands, I feel her spirit. A spirit that pushed her to venture forth into
the unknown with only a small candy dish to console her on a journey full of promise, fear, and hope.
Rescue dogs are chipped, scratched, lead
glass dishes on a journey full of promise, fear, and hope.
About Me
My goal: to create a story that speaks to the heart and spirit of
my reader. I’ve known great happiness and crushing grief. My mantra: I’m alive for a purpose, and it is well with my soul.*
I’ve
been writing my entire life. I’ve written professional manuals, campaign literature, short stories, Christmas plays, and multiple
seminars.† I live to read; I read newspapers that arrive in boxes of things I’ve ordered, instructions that came with appliances I
long ago discarded, labels on items I have no intention of buying, stacks of books, and chalk writings on sidewalks. Before I was
twelve, I’d read every child and adolescent book in the local library. As a young adult, I read through entire sections in the university
library. In airports I’ve thrown out clothes to keep books in an overweight suitcase.
Having never found my niche, I envy those
who recognize their gifts early in life, pursue the appropriate education, and successfully capture their goals. I’ve wandered in
and out of professions, gone back to school frequently, and grappled with finances as a business owner and single parent. I passed
up opportunities to be happy to pursue dreams that dissolve like soap bubbles in the sunshine.
I write to entertain, share a
bit of knowledge, connect with you as a friend, and encourage the love of books, dogs, and life. A wise Japanese woman said, “If you
have the capability, you must meet the challenge.” For my children, Keiko, and all who have believed in me, I strive to meet the challenge
of your expectations.
*read the heartbreaking story of Anna and Horatio Spafford
†Professional seminars: Averting Leadership
Crisis in Imaging Departments; A More Scientific Approach to Mammography QA/QC; Radiology as a Career; Diagnostic Positioning; The
Tournament of Life and Death; ABC of QA/QC; Saving Lives One Mammogram at a Time; Your Mother, Your Sister, Yourself; and Last Inspector
Standing.
Comments from seminar participants:
I’ve never enjoyed an educational program so much.
I laughed and learned.
Best presentation
I’ve attended.
I hope to attend more presentations by Pamela.
Pertinent information I can use every day.
I finally understand the processor.
Inspections
will be so easy after taking this education.
I’m a guy and not a mammographer and I learned a lot and enjoyed the humor of the presenter.