20 Books and Films That Helped Shape This Baby Boomer's Life

We all have books and films that evoke something of the past in us. When we think of them we are reminded of a moment in time. 

But there are also books and films that did something more...changed us in some ways or added a new layer to our lives. 

These books and films are not necessarily on any "best lists" or necessarily highly rated.  I have different lists for that. 

These are films and books that helped shape my life or changed me in some way.
(In a somewhat chronological order)

***Books***

1.  I have to start with a book that I now can't find. 

I know I was in middle school or early high school and was at my friend Linda's house.  Her parents had a book on their bookshelf called something like "100 Masterpieces of World Literature."  This would have been the late 1950's or early 1960's, so it wouldn't have any titles published beyond that.  I remember it listed "Alice Adams" by Booth Tarkington, Somerset Maugham's "Of Human Bondage" and "Not as a Stranger" by Morton Thompson, authors not much read today. 

But that book made me want to read every one of the titles listed --  so I did. 

I started at "A" and went all the way to the end, reading my way through that list. 

It was a thrill to go to the library and search in the dark stacks for the next books on my list, finding those titles and reading  "adult" books.  And some of them were quite educational!  I was already a reader and a library user, but it fueled my desire to read books I was not familiar with and to learn about the world outside of my small town in Michigan. 

I think I might have stopped when I got to "Ulysses."
(though I read that later in life.)




2.  "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell.

 

I was 12 and reading my first book over 1000+ pages. 

I was already in love with Clark Gable and had seen the movie when I was really young.  Can't remember why I wanted to read the book, but all of my friends were, possibly because the movie was coming to town again. 

With all of our technology and ability to see movies on DVD only months after their release in the theatres, we forget there was a time when, if you didn't catch the movie when it came to town, it was lost forever to you.  So "Gone with the Wind" was playing again, and there I was in the theatre, reading the last few pages of the book as the lights went down and the curtain rose.  A politically incorrect book, I know, but the character of Scarlett O'Hara was a mesmerizing one and the story riveting. 

Margaret Mitchell's life was also an interesting story, and it is amazing that this was her only published novel.  When my daughter lived in Atlanta, I toured her home and an homage site outside of town.  Neither was very impressive. 

The book and movie so affected me that I thought there would be a recreation of Tara on Peachtree Street!






3.  "Marjorie Morningstar" by Herman Wouk.

I read this in high school and as a fledgling actress it spoke to me. 

It's the story of a young girl who also wanted to be an actress.  One thing I still remember vividly in it was her saying she didn't need to be a star, but she had to try to make it as an actress or she would forever wonder if she could have.  However, she ends up a housewife in some small town.  So that was my mantra. 
"I don't care if I am a big star, but I just want to be an actress so I won't wonder what could have been." 

Guess what?  Well, I didn't end up a housewife, anyway.






4.  "What Every Driver Must Know" - State of Michigan

Not exactly a book, but reading this spelled...

 

freedom!

 

(I warned you that this wasn't a critically acclaimed list!)

5.  "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

 

Not sure which came first, this book or my interest in true crime. 

But when I heard about this book and that it would be published in installments in the New Yorker, I moved heaven and earth to get copies of those installments, which wasn't easy in the pre-Internet days.  My library didn't carry the New Yorker, so I had to get photocopies through interlibrary loan.   I then read it again when it was published in hardback and that book scared the crap out of me.  To think that an innocent family like the Clutters could be living their lives out in the country in Kansas and be so brutalized was just astonishing to me.  Capote's prose was sparse but dramatic and he drew you in - you were there. 

The book was so riveting I have since been a fan of true crime, but I am also now afraid to be alone at night.





6.  "Primary Philosophy" by Michael Scriven.

Philosophy 101 - Freshman year. 

Though the text was not just about the existence of God, his arguments for and against faith and beliefs affected me. He argued that faith alone was not an adequate way to prove the truth of beliefs.  

My father was a Christian Scientist and my mother was a Lutheran.  I went to church every Sunday, mostly at the Christian Science Church.  My father felt he didn't ask much of us so he expected we would do that for him, get up and go to church.  So we did. 

When I went to college, I took advantage of being away from home to not have to get up on Sunday morning and go to church as I had for the last 15+ years.  But  I can't remember how fervent my beliefs were when I went to college, though I believed in God.  Reading this text, however, made me question faith and what that meant, and I think that's what college is supposed to do, make you question things. 

Years later, I was at a party far from where I went to college and somehow this subject came up.  I was talking about how affected I had been by this book, but couldn't remember the name of the textbook or the author, but when I described it, one of the people in the discussion shouted, "Scriven!"  So I was not alone.

My son-in-law is a philosophy professor and I bought him a copy for Christmas, so I had a chance to look at it again 40+ years later.  I found it as I remembered it - asking all of the right questions.

A rational look at belief and faith.






7.  "Baby and Child Care" by Benjamin Spock

Dr. Spock's advice was still relevant in 1980 when my son was born, even though his book was first published in 1946.  Since I was born in 1948, it was probably the advice my mother took as well. 

He was the first to espouse parents being more affectionate and flexible when raising their children so most of us Baby Boomers probably benefited from his advice. However, the fact that he also was a liberal who was against the war in Vietnam led critics to brand his parenting advice as permissive and entitling, that we somehow expected instant gratification, and because of that, in turn, they blamed him for young people becoming protesters during the 60's and 70's.  Kind of a leap. 

But we Baby Boomers are getting it on both ends.  The current younger generation also blames us for the world as it is now and leaving them with school loans, a bad economy and who knows what else. 

But wait, our children were also brought up on Dr. Spock.  And aren't the Millennials (most of our children) the "Me generation?

And those children born in the 1980's constitute a birth rate almost as high as the Baby Boom generation. 

Here is what USA Today said about them in 2007:  "Developing a meaningful philosophy of life" decreased the most, across generations, from 73% for Boomers to 45% for Millennials.

"Becoming involved in programs to clean up the environment" dropped from 33% for Boomers to 21% for Millennials."

But this generation also appears to be even more liberal than us Baby Boomers, supporting gay marriage and other social issues.

I wonder what their legacy will be.






8. "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein

This was a favorite book for both of my children and I am now reading it to my grandsons. 

 I defy any of you parents out there to read that thing without crying. 

My god, after giving the boy everything, her fruit, her branches, her trunk, until she was reduced to a stump...the boy came back...

–”I don’t need very much now”, said the boy. “Just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired”.
–”Well”, said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, “well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down… sit down and rest”.
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy."

Geez, I'm crying right now. I can't stand it.

9.  "Wild, From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" by Cheryl Strayed

This is a very recent book for me but it had a profound impact. 

I tend to read mostly nonfiction these days, biographies, true crime, pop culture stuff, but this book will appeal to fiction readers as much as nonfiction readers. 

After the traumatic loss of  her mother, Strayed decides to walk the Pacific Crest Trail on her own.  She describes her day-to-day journey and it goes from harrowing to exciting to insightful. 

But the bottom line, the takeaway for me was, no matter what life throws at you, keep putting one foot in front of the other.







10.  Search Inside Yourself, The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (and World Peace) by Chade-Meng Tan.

 

Here is another recent find.  The author was a trainer at Google, which might explain why Google is doing so well.

It's self-help, but it's humorous and a fun read and attempts to help you deal with triggering situations.  I found this when I became interested in meditation but this goes further. 

 My big takeaway was his mnemonic.

"Siberian North Railroad" helps you remember to Stop, Breathe, Notice, Reflect, Respond when dealing with triggering events.

Try it, it works (if you can remember the mnemonic).

***Films***

1.  "Gone with the Wind"

 

The movie had even more of an impact on me than the book. 

The film was released in 1939, but its popularity was such that it would be re-released from time to time.  My mother took me to see it when I was five and it is one of the few memories I have that far back. But it's a vivid one.  Then I saw it again in 1960 and then several times after that.

That was when I decided I wanted to be an actress and it was probably because Scarlett O'Hara got to wear so many beautiful clothes.  But hey, we all have our reasons.






2.  "Hard Day's Night"

If you have been reading my blogs, you know I am not only a huge Beatles fan but that I also feel they have great significance to the popular culture of Baby Boomers.  

In case you missed it, here is the link. 

I have probably seen this film 10 times or more.  In my youth, all I cared about was that it was about my idols.  But now, of course, it is recognized as a brilliant little film directed by acclaimed director Richard Lester. 

I think the Beatles and this film spoke to me and other Baby Boomers, because as the Wilson sisters ("Heart) said in their recent oral history with Charles Cross, "Kicking and Dreaming" , they didn't want to marry the Beatles, they wanted to BE the Beatles.  I so get that.

Though I have to say I did want to marry Paul, this film also made me want to be them, to be there (in England) and do what they did. 




3. "West Side Story"

 

This film changed the face of musical theatre and musical films forever.  

It was such a big event that it played in the theatres like a stage play.  My friend Linda's parents took me to Chicago with them and we saw it there.  It was the first time I had sat in a movie theatre while an overture was played, with the skyline of New York City superimposed on the movie curtain.

Of course, "West Side Story" had already taken Broadway by storm, but for a girl of 12 from Michigan who didn't have a prayer in hell to get to New York City, seeing this movie was a revelation. It took on social issues, combined those with a classic story, and a sublime score and lyrics by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.  It was gritty, beautiful and sad and changed my little 12-year-old self forever. 

I must have played that soundtrack thousands of times in my room, and when I die, I want "There's a Place For Us" sung at my funeral.






4.  "Citizen Kane"

Orson Welles was just too much of a genius to play the Hollywood game.  That's my theory anyway, because all of his films are classics but he didn't get to make very many, and he didn't make much money.

Citizen Kane" gave me a tutorial in the art of innovative filmmaking.  He was the first to shoot a camera looking up from below and his scenes at the breakfast table between Charles Foster Kane and his wife show the disintegration of a marriage in six short vignettes all within two and a half minutes.

Here it is.

Brilliant just brilliant.







5.  "Rebel Without a Cause"

James Dean.  Natalie Wood.  Sal Mineo.  Teenage angst.  Drag racing.  Sounds like teen spirit. What could be better when you are a teenager yourself in the late 50's and early 60's?  And then Dean was killed in a car crash. 

I was agog.








6.  Easy Rider"

And then came the 1960's version of "rebel." 

I literally let out a yell in the movie theatre at the final scene.

7.  "Up Series"

This incredible series of films has followed 16 British children every seven years since 1964 when they were all seven.  The first film was titled "7 Up," followed by "14 Up," "21 Up," etc.  The most recent, "56 Up," was just released this year. 

It began as a study in class where the assumption was that each child's class would predict his or her future.   The premise of the film was taken from the Jesuit motto "Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man", which is based on a quotation by Francis Xavier.

The aim of the series is stated at the beginning of 7 Up as: "Why do we bring these children together? Because we want to get a glimpse of England in the year 2000. The shop steward and the executive of the year 2000 are now seven years old." 

But it is a study in realism, dreams realized, dreams dashed.  We see these kids grow up before our very eyes.

Director Michael Apted has been chronicling these children's lives since the second installment for an incredible 42 years.  What a feat!

This is probably the documentary that inspired my life-long love of this genre (and why, dare I say it?  I love reality TV). 







8.  "Night and Fog"

This is also a documentary - a shocking depiction of the Nazi concentration camps shortly after the war. 

If you have any doubt the holocaust happened, you need to see this film.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



9.  "Taste of Honey"

This 1961 British film, directed by Tony Richardson, father of Natasha and Joely, is part of the "kitchen sink realism" that changed the face of film.  Speaking of faces, this is when actors and actresses started to look like real people, you and me.

There was one "art house" in town and my friends and I were able to get into see the films there, even though you were supposed to be 18 (and we weren't).  I  think we had fake ID's.

Rita Tushingham starred and I related to her because it was the first time I saw a movie where the lead actress wasn't classically beautiful.  She had an odd look.  Since I wanted to be an actress but was insecure about my looks, it heartened me to see a successful actress who didn't have the classic Hollywood face.

10.  "51 Birch Street"

A son discovers the secrets of his parent's marriage after his mother dies in this documentary about  the more subtle forms of repression, secrecy and denial within a family, and the complexity of marriage. 

I remember sitting on the edge of the bed with my Dad when I was about 12 and asking him why I knew my friends better than I knew my mother and him.  He said something about parents not wanting to worry their children.  But even as a young girl, I wanted to "know" and "be known." 

As humans, I think our deepest desire is to be known by others, but we don't know how to do it. 

That's what this movie is about. Cinema verite at its best.

What books and films shaped your life? 

Let's get a discussion going!

 

***Rosy the Reviewer's Week in Review***

Films

A great week for movies.




"Amour"

This French film was not only nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film (which it won), but for Best Picture and Best Screenplay as well and there is a reason. 

It's a wonderful story about the love between an old couple and what happens after the wife has a stroke.  It's all about dying with dignity and what we are willing to do to make that happen. 

 I have thought about this very thing when I think about my Dad, who died at home with his loved ones around him, and my mother, who died alone in a nursing home.

Rosy the Reviewer says...a must see.  I know, you have to read subtitles but do it,  it's worth it.





"Trance"

This psychological thriller directed by Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire") reminded me of "Inception," with it's "is this real or imagined?" scenes.

Rosy the Reviewer says...despite some "huh?" moments, James McAvoy and Rosario Dawson are outstanding.





"Shadow Dancer"


This British-Irish drama is about Colette, a young IRA member who is arrested and given the choice of working undercover or losing her son.  Andrea Riseborough as Colette is amazing and Clive Owen is always good.

Rosy the Reviewer says...Taut thriller and I didn't see the end coming at all.




Food

Took a break from the Bumbershoot Music Festival to have a lovely meal at the Tilikum Place Café in Seattle.  Had the most delicious hand-cut pasta in sage butter as a starter, followed by pork tenderloin on a bed of creamed corn.  Hubby had a wonderful New York steak with onion rings.  And the onion rings were done right.  Don't you hate it when you eat onion rings and when you bite into them, the onion comes out of the coating?  These didn't do that.  They were perfect.

Rosy the Reviewer says...Seattlites and visitors - this is a special place.  Don't miss it!





Fashion

According to Elle Magazine, fall is all about polka dots, nautical-meets-military and surrealism.  Colors include bedazzled black, navy and pastels. 

Rosy the Reviewer says...so dress accordingly.

 

 

 

I think I can manage the black and bedazzled thing.

Fun

This week it was all about Bumbershoot, the three day music and arts festival that takes over Seattle every year over the Labor Day weekend.  We attended on Saturday with the express purpose of seeing Heart but also found some other up and coming acts.

Diamond Rings

Davidson Hart Kingsbury

Lake Street Dive

The Jason Bonham Experience opened for Heart on the main stage.  Jason is John Bonham's son, John of Led Zeppelin fame.  So it was all about paying homage to Led Zeppelin.  Heart followed with all of their hits.  Both Nancy and Ann were in fine voice.  Mike McCready of Pearl Jam came out to play with them on "Crazy on You" and the encore included six Led Zeppelin songs accompanied by Jason Bonham and his band.  Ann Wilson sang Robert Plant better than Robert Plant!  Gorgeous Pacific NW day.  Fabulous concert.

Rosy the Reviewer says...Bumbershoot is an annual event I look forward to and a great way to support new, young talent.

 

See you next week!

 

To All The Dogs I've Loved Before

You've probably figured out by now that I am a dog lover. 

But there is a reason.  From the age of seven until now, dogs have played a huge role in my life.  They have been a comfort in times of grief, fulfilled a desire to love and take care of someone and a great source of amusement.  I have also learned from them.

So in repayment for all that dogs have done for me, a tribute.

Echo

1955-1969

Echo came into my life when I was seven, at the height of the country's obsession with the TV show "Lassie." 

 He looked just like her (she was really a him).

This was also a time when dogs ran free around the neighborhood. 

Whenever he appeared, kids would yell, "Lassie!"  He was a gentle boy who put up with a lot.  In winter, my brother would tie him to a sled and make him pull him on it.  I would try to amaze my friends by saying, "See how good he is?  You can even pull his tail," and then proceed to demonstrate.

I was an aspiring actress and in all of the school plays. 

My senior year, Echo had a featured role.  We only lived a block from campus, and one night, after rehearsal instead of walking him home, I wanted to ride off with some friends, so I said to Echo, "Echo, go home."  I guess I thought because we were so close, and he roamed the neighborhood anyway, that he would find his way and go home.  Stupid, I know.  But 17 year olds can be stupid.  He didn't make it home.  An article appeared in the paper about him being lost, probably the human interest angle because he was in the play.  The article was titled, "Echo, where are you-you-you?"  The show went on with another dog taking his place, though the article pointed out, "not with the talents of the old pro."  He was finally found out in the country, miles from home.  The picture above with me also appeared in the paper to mark his happy return.  (By this time, he was 13 or so, so he is showing his age, but, trust me, he looked just like "Lassie.")

But he was never the same after that.

I went off to college and Echo spent his days with my Mom and the little neighbor kids she babysat.  But he developed a cancer on his eye and then bit a little girl, so my Dad decided it was time to put him down.  He called the dog pound (what we called the animal shelter in those days) to come and get him.  I knew nothing about this beforehand but happened to be home from college when the truck came.  A big burly guy grabbed Echo by the scruff of his neck and his tail, and he was a big dog, and tossed him into the back of his truck.  My last image of him was his confused look out through the chain link on the back of that truck as it pulled away.  I cried.  My mother, who never cried and who used to kick him out of the kitchen all of the time for being underfoot, cried.  My Dad was nowhere to be found.

Later I asked my Dad why he did that.  Why didn't he take him to the vet?  He was our loyal dog for almost 14 years.  My Dad said he didn't think any of us could bear to be there when he was put down.  My Dad was a tender-hearted soul so I knew he meant that.  But I could have and would have.  I never really got over that or the image of that loyal dog being driven away.

What I learned from Echo:  The unconditional love and loyalty of a dog. 
I know he forgave us.

Casper

1968

I married young. 

After my freshman year in college, in fact.  My husband was drafted and sent to Vietnam six months after our wedding, so I found myself a sophomore in college, alone in married housing.  So what does one do? 

One goes to an animal shelter and adopts a dog, that's what.

I adopted a little white collie mix they had named Casper, after that friendly ghost.  Not sure of his age but he was around six months old.  

I just assumed he would be just like Echo.  I didn't realize dogs actually had to be trained and cleaned up after.  So I tied him up outside while I went off to my classes.  It wasn't long until my neighbors complained about his barking and the aroma that surrounded his space.  So I invested in a "Super Duper Pooper Scooper" and decided I would keep him inside while I was gone.  When I returned, I discovered Casper had managed to break the window and escape!  I was able to find him, but then he did it again!  Not easy to explain one broken window to married housing, let alone two. 

But the second time he did it, I couldn't find him.  It was winter and the roads were covered in snow.  I called the County animal shelter to see if they had picked him up.  I was at least smart enough to get him a name tag.  Yes, they had him.  They had found his little body in the middle of the road in front of my house.  The driver that hit him had called and said he couldn't see him because he had blended into the snow. 

I didn't even get to say goodbye.

What I learned from Casper:  Taking on a dog is not just about company for me.  It's a responsibility that requires time and effort and care if the dog is going to have a good life.

Caniche

1968-1970

Around the second year my husband was in Vietnam, my Dad bestowed upon me a little Triumph Spitfire, an object of desire

 and a little white poodle to match (the car people threw him in with the deal) and my Dad was the kind of guy who loved that sort of thing - white car, white poodle, making the daughter really happy. 

My Dad knew I was sad about Casper and lonely for my husband, so he surprised me with the car and the dog that matched. 

I named him Caniche, which was the French word for dog. 

Not long after he came to live with me, I noticed something black on the top of his head.  Upon closer inspection, I discovered it was a huge tick.  I checked him out all over and he was covered in them!  It's amazing he didn't get Lyme Disease!  His previous owners had kept him outside in the backyard.  I painstakingly removed each and every one.  That cemented our relationship!

Caniche was a sweet little dog who kept me from being lonely, but life takes its toll. 

The marriage didn't last and after college, I made a big move from Michigan to California and Caniche couldn't go.  I found him a home and left. 

At least I got to say goodbye.

What I learned from Caniche:  His little sweet nature and desire to be a companion to a human began my lifelong love of poodles.

Gabriel and Noah

1971-1977

I moved to San Francisco right after college. 

I just missed the Summer of Love, but it was still a happening place, especially for a girl from a small town in Michigan.

Missing my little Caniche, I once again wanted a dog.  I decided I didn't do so well with white dogs, so I decided I wanted a black miniature poodle.  When we went to see a dog I was interested in, out also came another little ball of fluff, bouncing and yipping.  A little black toy poodle.  I couldn't resist. 

So we took them both.  Gabriel was the miniature and Noah, the toy. 

Most nights they liked to play pretend bite in front of the fireplace.  We lived across the street from the Golden Gate Park and walked them over there.  They brought us immense joy and amusement. 

For some reason we couldn't figure out, little darling Noah had horrible breath. We would laugh when people, seeing how cute he was, would pick him up to give him a little snuggle and then smelling his breath, hold him away from themselves with a look on their faces as if they had smelled a skunk!  Who would think such a little darling could have breath that could kill an elephant?

When we decided to do a cross country trip back east, Gabriel and Noah joined us in the panel truck, Gabriel sitting on the floor between the seats and Noah on my lap.  One time, while my husband was driving, Noah awoke from his nap, stretched, hopped over to my husband's lap and proceeded to have a little poop.  Guess he didn't want to defile where he slept.  I like to think he was showing his love for his Mom!

There is a misconception about poodles, that they are yappy little dogs who piddle in fear.  That couldn't be further from the truth.  They are one of the most intelligent breeds and when trained and treated properly, are calm and loving.

Case in point, it occurred to me after that long trip across country that Gabriel had sat stoically on the floor between the seats for thousands of miles with nothing more than the dashboard for scenery, a dog version of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance!"

We had them for almost five years, but once again, my life intervened and took precedence. 

I had to give them away.  I found two neighbors who each took one and promised they could visit each other.  And off I went never to see them again.

What I learned from Gabriel and Noah:  That I would never give another dog away ever again, no matter what.

Gambit

1979-1983

This is a very sad story and every time I think of it, tears come to my eyes. 

I went dogless for awhile but was settling down, buying a house, soon to have my son.  So Gambit came into our lives and he was the most beautiful miniature poodle I had every seen and a very devoted dog.

But again, life happened. 

My life started to fall apart, in fact ,and there was a long, drawn out drama that ended in divorce.  I was distraught, not eating, trying to hold things together so I could care for my son.  Gambit truly felt my pain.  I know he did.  He stopped eating.  He would quietly lie down by me or put his head on my leg.  I just didn't have it in me to give him much attention.  I was practically catatonic.

Then one day, I opened the door and he ran out.  He never tried to get out of the house like that.  He ran out and ran into the street, a quiet street where cars rarely came by.  He ran into the street and was hit by this one car, the one and only car that day that just happened to be coming down the street. I couldn't believe it.

I have always felt that Gambit was so miserable for me and for himself that he committed suicide, because he knew I couldn't take care of him and that my life would change and it would be difficult for me to keep him.  I know it sounds crazy but there you are.

What I learned from Gambit:  Dogs feel your pain.

Robin

1988-2003

When I settled down for good, I wanted another poodle.  My husband surprised me with Robin for my birthday.  With input from the children, we named him Robin.  He wasn't quite as handsome as Gambit was, but he was devoted to me.  He slept on the bed and stayed with me until I would stir.  I am not known for getting up early if I don't have to, so no matter how long I would sleep in, he was there.  Then I would make a little sound and he would come up to my neck and snuggle.  My last memory of him was a long hike we took in Garland Ranch Park in Carmel Valley (CA).  He was already 15 and was a little trooper, but I had to carry him the last few steps.

Robin started having these attacks.  He would come into the kitchen and then freeze and cry.  I think he was having seizures, which are not uncommon in poodles.  He was also blind, so we decided it was time. 

What I learned from Robin:  He helped me to understand what my Dad went through with Echo and to forgive him. I was a coward just like my Dad had been with Echo.  I didn't want to be there when we put him down.  My husband took him and was there when he passed.

What I learned from the vet:  When my husband came home he told me the vet had said we were doing the right thing to put down a pet who is suffering.  Many people keep them around long after they should have been put out of their misery.  That was comforting.

Gemma

1998-2008

While we still had Robin, we decided we wanted a companion for him. 

After having Gabriel and Noah, I had long thought dogs that get left alone for long periods of time, such as when we are working, should have a companion. 

We also wanted a big dog this time.  My husband had loved his German Shepherd dogs in the past so that's what we decided we wanted and Gemma came into our lives. 

I favor male dogs because they favor me!  Female dogs seem to favor the male in the family and that's what happened with Gemma.  Of course it didn't hurt that my husband and she played Frisbee together.  You haven't seen anything until you have seen a big dog (and Gemma was oversized, even if she had been a male) tracking and accurately leaping for a Frisbee.  All you had to say to her was "fris..." and her ears would stand straight up and she would start hopping around.

And it also didn't hurt that she and my husband also loved ice cubes, especially the whiskey-soaked kind.  As a puppy, we crate-trained her and found out it was a good idea to give the puppy ice cubes instead of water to facilitate the training.  That started a lifelong love of ice cubes.  My husband finally figured out why she would come to him in the evening and put her head on his knee and look up at him adoringly.  When he twirled his glass of whiskey and ice, her ears would stand straight up and she would focus on that glass!  She wanted those ice cubes!

One day Gemma stumbled coming down the stairs and seemed a bit out of it.  The next day I was giving her a treat and she crumpled.  We took her to the vet and discovered to our horror that her abdomen was filled with blood.  Her liver was affected and there was just no hope.  Just like that - two days - it was over.  She wasn't even 10 and it happened so fast. 

Once again, I think there is something between dogs and their humans. 

I believe she had been sick for much longer than those two days, and she hid it from us so we wouldn't worry, wanting to be the big, strong, protective girl she was. 

Again, I know I sound crazy, but I feel there is something more going on with dogs/animals than we give them credit for.  I can't be concrete about it.  I can only share my experiences.  Having had so many dogs in my life, each one unique, it is not difficult to think they sense us and feel and act in ways we may not understand.

What I learned from Gemma:  Dogs look after you in more ways than you know.

Frederic ("Freddy")

2003-2017

Named after my Dad, Freddy, a miniature poodle, came into our lives after Robin died.  By now, I am sure you realize I love those little black poodles.  He started out as a little clown, but when Gemma died, he changed.  So we decided to get him a companion.

UPDATE: RIP, dear Fred, who died today, September 9, 2017.

Tarquin

June, 2008

And then came Tarquin, a little black toy poodle.

I named him Tarquin because I had heard that Sir Laurence Olivier's son was named Tarquin and I found that to be such an interesting name I filed it away for future reference. 

I have to say, Freddy's life got worse as Tarquin wormed his way into my heart.  He is the wine-guzzling poodle I have referred to in other blogs.  He likes nothing more than to climb up on my lap while I am watching television ("The View" is a particular favorite) and proceed to bump my wine glass until I give him a sip.  I know, I know...lest you think I am a bad influence, it's only a little sip (or two).

Mildred Pierce ("Millie")

November, 2008

And then we go full-circle. 

Missing Gemma, we again wanted a big dog, but this time, remembering Echo, I wanted a collie. 

So enter Mildred. 

And I have to say, in the spirit of Lloyd Bentsen saying to Dan Quayle during the 1988 Vice Presidential Debates, "Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy,"

"Mildred, you are no Echo." 

And she is no Gemma either.  Doesn't play frisbie.  In fact if you toss her something, it bounces off her head.  And she doesn't like ice cubes, whiskey soaked or otherwise. 

But she is a sweet girl who adores Tarquin who unfortunately rules the roost around here. 

And she is remarkably cooperative when I want to write a blog that features dogs in costumes!

(for more on my obsession with dressing dogs in costumes, see my post "How Well Do You Know the Classics?")

What I have learned from Mildred, Freddy and Tarquin AKA the barker, the marker and the troublemaker :  Three dogs are a pack.  Not recommended.

This is what a pack of dogs looks like.

So here I am, retired, in my senior years, empty nest. 

I could be grabbing my bags on a whim and heading for a fun weekend on the spur of the moment.  But wait, what will we do with the dogs? 

Having dogs is like having toddlers FOREVER. 

But you know what, I wouldn't change it for the world. 

What about you?

***Rosy The Reviewer's Week in Review***

Films

We were traveling last week so didn't watch many films. 

However, I did have the honor of accompanying my two young grandsons to the movie, "Planes." 

It was a first movie out in a movie theatre for both of them.  AJ is almost two and a half, and already a huge devotee to the movie "Cars,"  and Percy is four months, so though Percy was a little angel and hardly made a peep, the movie probably made more of an impression on AJ. In fact, I know it did.  I think this is all the review I need to give.

He didn't move for the entire movie.

Rosy the Reviewer says...not as much here to delight the adults as "Cars" did (according to my son), but the younger set will still enjoy it.




Food

I just spent the last week in California where I had lived for over 30 years.  Sand Dabs was a particular favorite when dining out, because they reminded me of my "beloved" perch dinners we would have in Michigan.  So you can imagine my disappointment when I moved to Washington to not find Sand Dabs on any seafood menus.  I was lamenting this fact at dinner out in Monterey with some colleagues of my husband's (while eating Sand Dabs, of course), when one of them looked Sand Dabs up on his smart phone.  It said particularly prevalent and popular in Oregon and Washington!  Huh?

Rosy the Reviewer says... If someone can tell me how to get them here, I would appreciate it!



Fashion

My favorite time of year for fashion.  Fall clothes.  I love jackets and boots and vests.  I find summer difficult because I have to hide flabby arms, ghostly white legs and wear hats to keep off the sun thus leaving me with perpetual "hat hair."  But now that I am retired, I can't justify a fall clothes shopping trip nor do I have very many places to wear that cute tweed skirt or faux mink coat.  Nor do I have the money now.

Rosy the Reviewer says...Darn it! 



Fun

Books

Am working on "The Invisible Bridge" by Julie Orringer for a book club I plan to join next month.  It's 700+ pages and it's fiction.  Now that might not seem to be a problem for most, but considering I rarely read fiction anymore, it's a big deal.  And though the plot is intriguing I am finding the prose a bit overblown with a hint of soap opera. 

Is this why I don't like fiction anymore or should I keep at it?

Rosy the Reviewer says...this first novel is a well-researched love story in the shadow of the holocaust.

Theatre

Caught the touring company of "Sister Act" and it is delightful.

Rosy the Reviewer says...if it comes to a theatre near you, highly recommended.

Travel

Spent the last week in the San Francisco Bay area visiting my son, daughter-in-law and my two grandsons.  Had a wonderful time.

Rosy the Reviewer says...traveling also makes you fat.

***Hope to see you next week when I will be sharing the books and films that changed my life.***