THE BOOK OF BARKLEY: The Piano Guys

Sunday, April 2, 2017

The Piano Guys - A Big Thank You

I am a huge fan of The Piano Guys and their music is what has upheld and uplifted me after losing my brother, as well as some intense and continuing PT after a bad fall on cement steps that tore up my right leg, a disabling injury that meant I had to leave field work as a federal agent that helps to find a family's closure. That was tough to deal with on top of losing Barkley, my stepmom of 30 years (Mom died when I was in college), and my only brother, all within a very short time span.

The Piano Guys have millions of fans - I'm just one. But not too long back, Jon Schmidt, the pianist, lost his only daughter in a tragic hiking accident near where Dad lives, while I was on a visit there. I couldn't join the search in rough terrain when she went missing due to my leg, but I could send some words to uphold them spiritually, when her body was found, which I did, figuring it would be lost in all the fan mail. Yesterday a small envelope came to the house addressed to my author name. My publisher sometimes forwards stuff, but I didn't recognize the Utah address. At first, I thought it was from Murphy and Stanley or Goose's Mom who have read my books, but then I noticed "TPG" and the address.

It was a hand-written thank you card from Michelle and Jon Schmidt of The Piano Guys thanking me for my words of comfort and offering me encouragement as I continue on without my own family members. Their words of "the worth of helping one person" meant so much. Nothing could have made my day brighter here in these days that precede the anniversary of my beloved brother's death on Good Friday.

God is good.

5 comments:

UnknownApril 2, 2017 at 7:00 PM
Thank you for sharing this. And for introducing me to The Piano Guys. I will keep you in my prayers, especially this month, and ask that you are wrapped in the comfort of warm memories. Good Friday is an anniversary of loss and a reminder of God's love for us (my son and me) also and will pray for you and your family.
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♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥April 2, 2017 at 8:02 PM
That was a very thoughtful gesture on their part to take the time to send a written note - your kind words must have meant a lot to them.

The days surrounding family losses are always tough - hugs.

Woos - Lightning and Misty
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Yamini MacLeanApril 3, 2017 at 6:36 AM
Hari OM
When Love rains, Love Reigns. YAM xx
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Matilda the BoxerApril 3, 2017 at 11:15 AM
How thoughtful of them!
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MurphyApril 3, 2017 at 11:22 AM
That was so nice of them to send the note. One time when mom was taking piano classes at the end of the year Jon Schmidt put on a free concert for the piano school class. He is soooooo talented! It was very sad that his daughter died in that hiking accident but we were glad they recovered her as so many take years to find.

Your Pals,

Murphy & Stanley
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Welcome to The Book of Barkley and the Blogville dog blogging community. This blog was created for more memories of Barkley as well as updates on our Lab Rescues that have joined our household since Barkley left us.

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FIVE STARS

No one who has ever had a dog as a companion will be able to read The Book of Barkley: Love and Life through the Eyes of a Labrador Retriever by L. B. Johnson with dry eyes.

Johnson tells the story of her life, from childhood to adulthood, from the perspective of her relationship with Barkley, a Lab that she got when he was just a stubborn ball of fur who ‘selected’ her when she viewed the litter of which he was a part. Her descriptions of adjusting to Barkley’s presence in her life, and how this helped her come to terms with and understand her past and learn to take life a day at a time on her own terms will resonate profoundly with anyone who has fallen in love with a dog and had to learn to live with its loss.

This is a story of unconditional love and acceptance, the kind that asks nothing but love in return. As Johnson and Barkley forge bonds of trust and understanding, she also strengthens her human relationships.

This is much more than a mere memoir – it is a story of life and how to live it, and how we humans can learn to live our lives better if we’d only learn to live it like a dog does. The author uses language well, with descriptions of animals, people, and places so vivid you feel that you can feel the textures, smell the odors (pleasant and otherwise) and hear the whining of a puppy needing to go out to do its business. Life can be sad or happy, and the author takes us through it all – a trip that you won’t regret taking. A five-star book that definitely merits the Awesome Indies Seal of Excellence

About Barkley and His Mom

My Mom started this blog due to requests from friends who wanted a place to go for stories of her furry friend Barkley that weren't in the book and stories of my rescue and new life in my furever home. She donates all of the proceeds from her writing to animal rescue and groups that train search and rescue and service dogs but that's OK, as she still gives me lots of dog treats and toys.

The Book of Barkley is Mom's first memoir. She used to be a jet pilot for somebody's Uncle but now has a Ph.D. in something involving science and forensics which is like TV but without expensive suits or cleavage. Additional mayhem is provided by my Dad and our 100-year-old "fixer upper" Mission Bungalow.

Her second memoir "Saving Grace - A Story of Adoption" was published in April of 2015". Her Third Book - "Small Town Roads", her first Fiction Novel was published October of 2016 and was an NPR selected "2017 must read" and 2017 Readers Favorite International Book Award GOLD for "Fiction - Religious Theme". Her 4th book, "Calexit, The Anthology", a Novella with other authors, was published in October of 2017 and was on the Amazon Best Seller's list two days later. Her fifth book "True Course - Lessons from Life Aloft" was a #1 best seller at Amazon 24 hours after publishing so I think she has been bribing you all with treats.

Abby - Mom's Lab Assistant