The Dog Stays in the Picture

Y’all know I’m a sucker for a dog, right? So you can imagine how happy I was to be asked to review Susan Morse‘s new book The Dog Stays in the Picture.  Morse is the wife of actor David Morse. You’ve prolly seen him in a lot of different things, apparently he gets around, but I mostly remember him from St Elsewhere. If you Google him you’ll be like, oh yeah, THAT GUY!

Anyway, Morse, like many of us, is entering into empty nest syndrome and needs to figure out what to do with herself.  Morse has been a housewife most of her life, and while there’s no shame in that, she’s also been writing books and doing other things which can be kind of tricky seeing as your husband is gone 6 weeks out a month.  I don’t know how she does it. Susan is one of those women you can relate to. And at times, I feel like I’ve known her a long time. She lives in suburban Philadelphia, like I do, she is  suffering from the empty nest syndrome, like I am dreading, she loves her dog, she recently got a new dog to nurture (I’m contemplating getting 9 more), and she’s got anxieties and other quirks that make her relatable.  Ok sure her husband is a famous actor but so what?   She feels like one of us. A woman, a mother, a quirky girl.

And I like that. Now lets get back to the dog. She adopts this anxious greyhound who’s never lived in a home and has zero idea what to do with stairs. Funny, but sad, poor thing, can’t stand to be away from Susan for more than a millisecond or she gets all nervous.  Been there, done that, right?

As Susan walks you through her journey and her quirky mental health habits (who am I to judge, I’ll eat a box of donuts in a heartbeat when I’m stressed) and fears, you realize something.

We are all the same.

And that a dog’s love is necessary. What would the world be without dogs?

Lonely.

And a bit less pukey, but that’s the price you pay for that kind of love.

Hey Susan, call me, I’d love to have a cup of coffee and a box of donuts with you. We can swap freaky overprotective mother stories.

Call me.

(call me)

Bring the pooch.

This is the perfect book club book, did I mention that?