Welcoming Home Willow

I know it’s quite a somber day today on this 20th anniversary of 9/11. It lives in our memories. It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years. I was living at the time just 4 miles from the Pentagon and went there on my bike that day and saw the fiery destruction. It was a sad and scary day.

A friend in my Hains Point tennis group worked at the Pentagon and told me that in the section and “ring” where he was sitting the whole building shook heavily and the lights went out (the plane smashed through three of the five rings of the building).

Luckily he was able to get out and only then from outside did he see what had happened so close to him. Meanwhile the burn victims were sent by ambulance to Arlington hospital. It’s still chilling these many years later, the loss of lives in D.C., N.Y., and PA. 

Anyways I won’t go on at length about it — as everyone knows where they were and how awful it was and the lives it changed. Every 9/11 is a reminder of that terrible day and the aftermath that followed, especially on the East Coast and to those affected.

The good news is this past week we were in the mountains in Banff National Park for a few days enjoying some hikes and bike rides and when we came home we picked up our new Labrador puppy on Friday. We had been planning this since July so it wasn’t a sudden decision. She is close to 8-months-old now and is named Willow from the breeders who had her. She is a sweetheart girl and gets along well with our 9-year-old Labrador Stella, though none of us can believe the energy this pup has. She’s a hurricane of energy, so we are full-on now helping her acclimatize, exercise, and learn.  

I don’t have too much book news this week. I’m just reading a long-ish novel for PW. But three books came in for me at the library that look good.  Do you know these ones? 

a) Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang — A memoir by the author who came to the U.S. with her family from China in 1994 as a 7-year-old undocumented girl and found her way through years of hunger and poverty in New York’s Chinatown.

b) Fight Night by Miriam Toews — Set in Toronto, the narrative alternates between a 9-year-old girl (Swiv) who’s been suspended from school and her grandmother who fights for their family. 

c) American Rust by Philipp Meyer — A gritty drama set in a Pennsylvania steel town about an act of violence that changes the lives of two friends and their families forever. 

Thanks to those of you who told me about the novel American Rust, which came out originally in 2009. The Showtime TV series of it is starting tomorrow night with Jeff Daniels as the chief of police. Let me know if any of these books appeal to you. We plan to start watching American Rust (I think we get it?) … meanwhile we recently finished watching Bosch Season 7 (a series we liked a lot) … and we’re in the middle of the series Nine Perfect Strangers, which is pretty nutso, but just a fun dark thing too. 

What do you think of these? Cheers.

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22 Responses to Welcoming Home Willow

  1. Diane says:

    Wow, you really had some close ties to 9/11. We were vacationing in LasVegas on 9/11 and woke up to the terrible news. Loved the picture of you and the dogs; I’m sure your new girl will bring much happiness to your home. Glad you had some nice hikes this past week as well.

    I read and enjoyed American Rust in 2010 and didn’t realize the Showtime series was premiering this weekend. I will be reading Beautiful Country soon. I love a good memoir and this one sounds excellent. Take care and have a good week.

    • Susan says:

      Thanks Diane. The memoir does look good. Much to read as usual. The Rust TV series looks like a big compelling drama and I’m glad you liked the book.
      It must have been weird to be in Vegas on that day … and hope you were able to get home as I recall the planes were grounded afterwards.
      We are hands full with the new dog – but plenty of excitement too. take care.

  2. Welcome Willow! Love the photo of you and your pups. Will be curious to hear how Stella is adjusting. Years ago when our Brittany was 10+, we brought home a puppy and she was positively miserable for weeks. Thankfully it did work out.

    I tried to buy a copy of American Rust at the local indie last month, but they didn’t have it. Now I’m on the library hold list. It should be available by the time we get back to FL. My daughter got Beautiful Country from BOMC and I’m hoping she’ll pass it on to me when she’s done. Still need to read something by Miriam Toews. All My Puny Sorrows is on my kindle… have you read that one?

    • Susan says:

      Hi JoAnn: I have not read Miriam Toews yet?! … which is hard to believe as I have a few of her novels on my shelves. I plan to get to them. The one about suicide – All My Puny Sorrows – is one I think I was always trying to find the particular right time for. Hmm.
      Glad you told me about your dog experience about getting two. So far our first dog Stella is managing pretty well though I’m sure it’s not easy for her. We are adjusting and giving her special privileges & space. I think it will work out whew. Enjoy your week.

  3. Les in OR says:

    Beautiful photo of the mountains!

    It was a very somber day yesterday, wasn’t it? I can’t imagine living so close to where any of those jets crashed. I was in Fort Worth (working at Borders Books & Music) and watched in horror as the 2nd plane hit the other tower. And the collapse of both towers. And the Pentagon. It was an absolutely horrifying (and terrifying) day. I highly recommend The Only Plane in the Sky, if you have not yet read it. Obviously, it’s a difficult read, but so very well done.

    Hooray for a new dog! I hope Stella and Willow get along well. (Stella’s expression seems to say, “Really, guys? How can I possible nap with this ball of energy jumping all over me?”)

    I would like to watch American Rust, but we don’t have Showtime. I wish all of the streaming platforms were interchangeable. We just finished a very light series called Whistable Pearl. Meh. On to something else tonight.

    Have a good week!

    • Susan says:

      Thanks Lesley. Yeah I meant to get to The Only Plane in the Sky but I still haven’t. Not sure I can read more about it at the moment but will another time.
      The dogs are adjusting here … and it’s sort of full-on but we decided to do it b/c our first one is getting older and my husband’s long skis & hikes I thought would be too much for her. I hope having both will become manageable?! Stella has been a good trooper so far with the young one.
      I never know whether we get the TV shows or not. We have Prime & HBO but no longer Netflix. Somehow Showtime comes with our HBO? Enjoy your week.

  4. I just got Beautiful Country from Book of the Month so am interested to know what you think of it as it may be a few months until I get around to reading it.

    And, a new puppy is exciting and exhausting all at the same time. I’ll bet your older dog will help train the new one.

    • Susan says:

      Hi Helen. I think our older dog is giving the young one some guidance which helps. Knock on wood. We debated about getting another dog but hope it will be worthwhile.
      It also might be awhile before I get to Beautiful Country too. But we will see. I hope it will be good once I’m able to get to it. Have a great week.

  5. Carmen says:

    Welcome Willow to the blogosphere! And congrats to Stella for becoming a big sister! 🙂 They look adorable. I thought it was Sadie visiting.
    It took me years to recover from breaking down crying every 9/11 when I heard the pipes singing mournfully for the victims, and with the images on television. I was glued to the TV for 11 hours that day, in such a shock I couldn’t shake it.
    I know American Rust just by seeing it on book sites. I’m waiting for Nine Perfect Strangers to finish so I can see all episodes back to back. I’m still reading Doerr’s novel; hopefully I’ll finish by mid or end of next week. Good luck with your longish read! 🙂

    • Susan says:

      Thanks Carmen, all the dog commotion here is keeping us on our toes. Willow appears to be a very happy loving girl. And I’m getting plenty of walking exercise. Though Stella thinks we’re crazy. She’s 9 now so isn’t sure she needs this sister.
      I’m glad you will finish the Doerr novel and can tell us how goes it with that long novel. Are all its threads enticing enough?
      The 9/11 coverage wiped me out a bit so it’s good we spent some time in the mountains. I hope all is well there. Happy fall & reading.

  6. Congratulations on your new family member. I’m sure she will bring you much joy.

    We’ve watched all the Bosch series and mostly enjoyed it, although I felt the quality declined somewhat in the latest season. We do plan to watch the new American Rust series as well. The only review that I’ve seen of it was sort of negative but I figure anything with Jeff Daniels in it can’t be terrible.

    I haven’t read any of the three books you mention but Fight Night sounds interesting to me.

    • Susan says:

      Thanks Dorothy. We are liking our new dog. Quite a new addition.
      I’m also thinking the Jeff Daniels series can’t be all that bad, right? Apparently there will be a Bosch spin-off series with some of the same cast members, hmm.
      Miriam Toews is a popular well-known author in Canada but I still haven’t read her other books so I must start one of hers soon. Have a great week.

  7. I can only imagine the horror of seeing 9/11 in person. I can remember how horrific it was to see the plane hit the Pentagon on tv while I was in a US government regional office. We were stunned.

    Congratulations on your new lab puppy. My sister has always had labs and they are the friendliest of creatures.

    Beautiful Country looks promising. I’m eager to hear more.

    • Susan says:

      Yeah Deb, it was nuts & surreal at the Pentagon that day. Shell-shock.
      These Labs are a good antidote of remembering all that. They’re very friendly & playful & loving. And Willow came at the right time.
      I hope I can get to Beautiful Country in the next few weeks.
      Enjoy your week & reading.

  8. Hi there Willow!!! Elza will love you. She was practically raised by our 2 labbies who are 12 years old already. Seeing them get old is not easy! I can just imagine how busy Willow can be. Such a joy.
    Yes, all across the Globe we can all remember where we were on 9/11. Even here in SA. We will never forget.

    Have a good week and enjoy your puppy!

    • Susan says:

      Thanks Mareli. Yeah we decided b/c our first Lab is now 9 — we decided to get a crazy young one so my husband can hike & ski with her. I can imagine having your Labs 12 now would be tough. Too lovable to have our fur babies get older. It’s been a long while since we’ve had a semi-puppy so we are back full-on again. Luckily the days have been beautiful & easy for long walks! Have a great week there.

  9. Judee says:

    Your memories of 9/11 must be scary since you were so close. On a happier note, enjoy Willow and all your good times you will have together. She looks like she is very happy.

  10. Heather says:

    Awww! Stella and Willow are so pretty! Glad she’s home with her new family. So sweet.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on 9/11. I’m a western state girl so I didn’t feel the impact that so many have who were on the East coast. But I do remember where I was and how it all impacted me and my family as we watched in horror.

    I haven’t heard of any of your books but they look good. I’ve heard the series American Rust is just really dark and never lets up. I’ll be interested in your thoughts once the season is done. I don’t have access to that station but maybe I’ll rent it if it’s really good.

    I hope you have a wonderful week and weekend!

    • Susan says:

      Thanks Heather. Stella & Willow are our dear fur kids 🙂 I’ll keep you posted about American Rust. So far it’s just one episode each Sunday – so we sort of forget about it in between. We are also trying out the odd Nine Perfect Strangers, so we are waiting for the next episode of that too. I hope all is well there. I plan to stop by your site soon. Cheers.

  11. Ti says:

    The 9/11 stories always stay with me. No matter how many times I hear them.

    A big welcome to Willow!!! Stella will be thrilled to have a buddy once she learns her puppy manners.

    • Susan says:

      Thanks Ti. Yeah Willow is learning …. she has a lot of energy so my husband and I both take turns of keeping her busy & exercised. Stella is a bit bewildered by the new addition but she is trying to adapt too. We are trying to find a routine that works for all. We will see how the weeks go. Hope your fall is cooling off.

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