How I Discovered the Monks of New Skete… and More

I created this dog blog to generate even more interest in my book Learning to Live with Fritz which was ‘authored’  by E. Rawlins, my opera diva mistress. Note the use of the quotation marks above.  I  was the voice dictating, editing and rewriting her manuscript  to make sure she got it right. Finally, I was satisfied that her comical memoir was self-critical and entertaining enough to  appeal not only to dog lovers but to opera buffs and individuals interested in the spiritual aspect of their hairy housemates.  Let me just cut to the chase:  Buy the book or download the eBook… you won’t regret it!

 Now I can get to my real topic of the day: How I found out about the Monks of New Skete, their German shepherd dogs, training manuals, books and general philosophy… including their beautiful practice of Inseeing, the relationship  of human to companion animal… soul to soul. Yes, you read this correctly… as in non-separation. 

Once Ms.Em was interviewed by Susan Owensby, a snazzy, upbeat American journalist for RFI (Radio France International). 

Susan hosts her own unpredictable and eclectic radio show:  The Sound Kitchen… where you never know WHAT you’ll be served!  It is an international listener interactive radio program; it features essays on various topics written by listeners from all over the world, interviews with artists, scientists, peace activists, and offers an exciting weekly quiz.

The subject of the interview was E.’s poetry collection:  Rather Light Candles Than Rage Against the Darkness and featured her reading of  “I don’t know how to hate you” (page 67) a prose poem describing a cultural collision and its surprising outcome. *

It was The Sound Kitchen’s Susan Owensby who contacted E. by email after reading Learning to Live with Fritz.

“Your book stirred up so many emotions! Sad, happy – even the little green monster (why didn’t Burton or Taylor or Heloise send ME messages?), but after a good week’s’ digestion, this is what your book has brought to me: the readiness to have a dog again.  You have certainly heard of The Monks of New Skete – the dog Brothers? I just remembered them the other day. Anyway, I just got their books and am loving them … You should read them.”

Of course (!) E. learned about the Brothers from the fabulous Ms.Owensby… but it was  I… I was the one who consistently whispered reminder after reminder…  until E. actually bought the Monk’s books and saved our sweet Freddy’s future… just in the nick of time.

Although through E.’s ineptness…  Freddy has become a true chickaholic, this could work out to be (hopefully) his greatest character defect.   He will certainly be socialized and more lovingly trained with the helpful guidance of the Brothers and Ms. Owensby on our side… that is if I have anything to say about it.

*Listen to Susan Owensby’s The Sound Kitchen Sunday 30 May 2010 – Interview and poetry reading with E. Rawlins

 

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