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Farmer’s Almanac Essay Contest – ALL ages!

Announcing the 2010 Farmer’s Almanac Essay Contest Topic:  The Kindest Thing Anyone Ever Did for Me. 

In 200 words or less, please tell us about an act of kindness that you experienced. 

Rules:  Cash prizes (first, $250; second, $150; third, $100) will be awarded for the best essay on the subject “The Kindest Thing Anyone Ever Did for Me.”  All entries become the property of Yankee Publishing, which reserves all rights to the material.  The deadline for entries is Friday, January 29, 2010.  Label “Essay Contest” and send to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, P.O. Box 520 Dublin, NH, 03444; [email protected]

Include your name, mailing address and em-mail address.  Winners will be announced in The 2011 Old Farmer’s Almanac and on Almanac.com/Contests.

http://www.almanac.com/content/contests

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The Past and the Future

When you were young, how did you envision yourself all grown up? When I was an eighth grader in Wisconsin, our English class assignment was to interview each other and write up the interviews about our classmates in the far-away future space age . . . the year 2000. Someone made a booklet cover with a space ship flying among the stars and we were all set.

As for the article about me, I was to be a teacher, with a terrier, who lived in California.

Although I no longer teach, I did for many years. And the photo of my Yorkshire Terrier, Zoie, is at the right and also on my website. I came to California for college and never left, except for visits to the Midwest.

But as a child I never dared dream I’d be a children’s book writer. That wasn’t an available choice. The closest thing offered on the guidance counselor’s form was “newspaper reporter,” which was of no interest to me.

Fortunately today, young people see authors in classrooms, bookstores, and online as examples of what they may become. There are contests and opportunities for them to become published in magazines, newspapers and even books. So although many of us lament what has happened to the “good old days,”  opportunities have been created for writing and the arts.

1. What about YOU? Write your history of what you wanted as a youngster and how it has differed. Or has it?

2. If you are a student, what do you hope for your future? You can write about your career, or your family, the world situation, your spiritual growth or any topic you choose.

3. How can you help advance writing and creativity today? Can you sponsor a contest? A brainstorming session at your school or library? Start a book or writer’s group?

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Dream Essay Contest! $2000, 1,500, $500 Prizes!

Deadline:  Jan. 31, 2010

Who can enter the contest?
Entrants must be 25 years old or younger as of the contest deadline: January 31, 2010. Entrants must reside in Arab League member states, Iran, Afghanistan, or the United States. There is no minimum age requirement, and entrants do not need to be students. Prizes are awarded as cash, not scholarships.
Foreign Students: If you are a foreigner currently studying in the US, you can enter the contest. If you are a Middle Easterner studying in the US, answer one of the questions posed to Middle Easterners. If you are a citizen of the Middle East temporarily living outside the region, you can still enter the contest. If you are an American currently living overseas, you can enter the contest. Equal Opportunity: All essays are evaluated without regard for race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation of the author, as well as other classifications protected by applicable international US laws.

How long should entries be?
Essays should be at least 600 words, but no longer than 1,500 words. Footnotes, citations, and essay title do not count towards the word limit.

Can an essay entry remain anonymous?
If do not want your name made public in the event your essay is selected as a winner, check the “anonymous” box when submitting your essay. Several past winners have chosen this option.

When will HAMSA announce the winners?
Winners will be notified (and announced on our web site) by June 2010. Judges evaluate each essay for clarity, creativity, and persuasiveness to determine prize winners.

What are common mistakes to avoid when writing an essay?
Do not focus on US government policy and regional geo-politics (the Iraq War debate, the Arab-Israeli-Iranian conflict, Iran’s nuclear program, etc.). Essays based on these topics are disqualified. Judges are looking for essays that explore what ordinary citizens can do on the grassroots level to strengthen individual rights within Middle Eastern societies. These civil rights include, but are not limited to, free expression, women’s equality, minority rights, religious freedom, economic liberty, and artistic freedom.

How can a brief essay cover the broad topic of civil rights in the Mideast?
There are several ways to address this challenge. Past prize winners have discussed the larger problem of civil rights abuses across the Middle East with a range of examples. Others have focused on one particular country (Middle Eastern participants are strongly encouraged to address their own society). Others have focused on a particular kind of civil rights abuse (e.g., press censorship). There is no one “right” answer to any of the essay questions.

Do essays have to be original and does HAMSA retain the right to reprint essays?
Yes. Any quotations or outside intellectual material should have citations. All essay submissions become the property of the contest sponsor. At the same time, entrants can republish their essay on their own (e.g., on a blog, for a class paper, etc.) and use ideas for other writing.

If you have a question, email us at [email protected].

Prizes:
$10,000 in total prize money: One grand prize winner in the Middle East and one in the US will receive $2,000. One second place winner in the Middle East and one in the US will receive $1,500. Three runners up in the Middle East and three in the US will receive $500 each. 50 book prizes will be awarded to additional outstanding essays.

HAMSA’s annual contest comes from a 1951 Langston Hughes poem: What Happens to a Dream Deferred?. The poem helped propel the civil rights movement in the US. Today, it can inspire your dream deferred for the Middle East, which the UN calls the “world’s least free region.” The contest has two parts: one for Middle Eastern youth and one for American youth. Write a brief essay addressing one of the questions below. Winning essays – selected by a panel of celebrity judges – receive $10,000 in prizes.

Deadline for entries is January 31, 2010. Please answer one of the questions below – and make sure to read the rules & guidelines.

If you live in the Middle East… If you live in United States…
1. Discuss a civil rights abuse in your local community – how does this repression impact you or someone you know? Describe a personal experience with civil rights restrictions (censorship, discrimination, etc.). Consider what can be done to reform these abuses. Explain whether your children will still face the same restrictions when they are your age. 1. Profile a Middle East civil rights reformer – What about their work inspires you and how can you assist their struggle? Explain the challenge to individual rights this reformer addresses. Describe the nonviolent strategic approach the reformer uses to advance change. And suggest ways that you as an individual in America can help support their struggle.
2. We have $500 to offer you to organize an event or campaign – what do you propose to do? Submit a proposal for an event or campaign addressing the struggle to secure individual rights. Describe the event, its intended impact, how you will spend the funds, and your target audience. Explain why you should receive the funds and how they will be an investment in long-term change. 2. How can you support the “D.R.I.V.E.” campaign from the US? Read last year’s winning essay by S.B.Z. about a grassroots campaign in Saudi Arabia for the right of women to drive. Create a strategy plan for a solidarity campaign with clear goals and benchmarks. Explain how to leverage your freedom – and how you convince other Americans to join in.
3. What is your “dream deferred” – a vision of your society with civil rights for all? Share your dream of a successful civil rights movement. Explain what is needed for this campaign to overcome obstacles. If you like, write a mock newspaper article from the year 2012 reporting on a ground-breaking event or campaign. Describe successful collaboration between Mideast and American activists. 3. What can the future look like if Americans – like you – partner with Middle Eastern reformers? Share your vision of a successful collaboration between Mideast and American activists. Describe how an effective joint campaign overcomes key obstacles. If you like, answer the question by writing a mock newspaper article from the year 2012 reporting on this new alliance.

 

HAMSA’s annual contest comes from a 1951 Langston Hughes poem: What Happens to a Dream Deferred?. The poem helped propel the civil rights movement in the US. Today, it can inspire your dream deferred for the Middle East, which the UN calls the “world’s least free region.” The contest has two parts: one for Middle Eastern youth and one for American youth. Write a brief essay addressing one of the questions below. Winning essays – selected by a panel of celebrity judges – receive $10,000 in prizes.

Deadline for entries is January 31, 2010. Please answer one of the questions below – and make sure to read the rules & guidelines.

If you live in the Middle East… If you live in United States…
1. Discuss a civil rights abuse in your local community – how does this repression impact you or someone you know? Describe a personal experience with civil rights restrictions (censorship, discrimination, etc.). Consider what can be done to reform these abuses. Explain whether your children will still face the same restrictions when they are your age. 1. Profile a Middle East civil rights reformer – What about their work inspires you and how can you assist their struggle? Explain the challenge to individual rights this reformer addresses. Describe the nonviolent strategic approach the reformer uses to advance change. And suggest ways that you as an individual in America can help support their struggle.
2. We have $500 to offer you to organize an event or campaign – what do you propose to do? Submit a proposal for an event or campaign addressing the struggle to secure individual rights. Describe the event, its intended impact, how you will spend the funds, and your target audience. Explain why you should receive the funds and how they will be an investment in long-term change. 2. How can you support the “D.R.I.V.E.” campaign from the US? Read last year’s winning essay by S.B.Z. about a grassroots campaign in Saudi Arabia for the right of women to drive. Create a strategy plan for a solidarity campaign with clear goals and benchmarks. Explain how to leverage your freedom – and how you convince other Americans to join in.
3. What is your “dream deferred” – a vision of your society with civil rights for all? Share your dream of a successful civil rights movement. Explain what is needed for this campaign to overcome obstacles. If you like, write a mock newspaper article from the year 2012 reporting on a ground-breaking event or campaign. Describe successful collaboration between Mideast and American activists. 3. What can the future look like if Americans – like you – partner with Middle Eastern reformers? Share your vision of a successful collaboration between Mideast and American activists. Describe how an effective joint campaign overcomes key obstacles. If you like, answer the question by writing a mock newspaper article from the year 2012 reporting on this new alliance.

Visit:

http://www.hamsaweb.com/essay/essay.php

For the submission entry form and other information.

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KQED Radio Show’s Commentary, Video or Photo Slideshow Contest for Youth

Attention All of You Ages 13 – 27 in California!

KQED is looking for young people to share their Perspectives on two themes: “Coming Out” and “Friday Night.” Perspectives may take the form of a short commentary, video, or photo slideshow.

One grand prize, an iPod Touch, will be awarded to the best overall entry for each theme.

Selected Perspectives will also air on KQED Public Radio and be published on kqed.org throughout the months of January and March.

The deadline for the “Coming Out” theme is December 15, so don’t wait!

If you’ve got something to say (and we hope you do!) read the details below:

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THE KQED Youth Perspective Competition Rules and FAQs
1. Tell me more about the themes.

Coming Out: Submit your reflections on coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, or revealing some other important personal secret about who you are or what you do that changed your life. Pieces should explore topics such as why you came out or how you changed, obstacles you had to overcome, help that you received or outcomes that you didn’t anticipate. Pieces from friends or family members of those who have come out are encouraged.

Friday Night: Friday nights mark a transition from the school week to personal time, sparking a change in many people. How does Friday night represent your world as a whole? What do you do, or not do, on Friday night that represents how your life is changing or how your life is unique? What does your Friday night say about you, your family, neighborhood, city, age, etc?

2. What is the prize?

One Perspective for each theme will be awarded a grand prize, an 8GB iPod Touch.3. Who can enter?

Anyone between the ages of 13 and 27 years old may submit a Perspective for possible publication or broadcast, however, you must be a resident of California to be eligible for the competition to win a prize. (If you’re under the age of 18, be sure to get your parents’ or guardians’ permission before entering!) Employees of KQED and their relatives are also not eligible to win prizes.

4. How long can my Perspective be?

Your Perspective can be anywhere from 20 seconds to two minutes long. For written Perspectives, that usually translates to 350-375 words, depending on your rate of speech.

5. When is the deadline?

Perspectives for the “Coming Out” theme need to be received by KQED editors by December 15, 2009. Perspectives for the “Friday Night” theme must be received by KQED editors by February 8, 2010.

6. What is the process for submitting a Perspective?

Step 1: Make a video, create a photo slideshow (with audio or without), or write a short commentary. However you express yourself, do it. Use the themes, “Coming Out” and “Friday Night” as a jumping-off point to reveal something about yourself or the world you live in. Read more about the themes below and listen to some Perspectives at kqed.org/perspectives to learn more about the series.

Step 2: Send us your Perspective. Email your entries to Mark Trautwein, Editor of the Perspectives series, at [email protected]. For text commentaries, simply email them as an attachment. For video commentaries, upload your video to an online video sharing site, such as YouTube, and send us the URL and embed code. For photo slideshows, create a slideshow using a photo sharing site like Flickr and send us an email, including a link or URL to the photo set. If you want to include audio, simply include the accompanying audio in your email.

Remember: Be sure to hold on to your original photos, video, and audio. When you email your entry, include your name, city, age, and a phone number and email address where we can reach you. When you upload your work to a video sharing site, be sure to set permissions to allow embedding on third-party websites. Also be sure to tag your video with the phrase “KQED Youth Perspectives Contest,” and your theme, “Coming Out” or “Friday Night.”

Step 3: If your written commentary is selected to air, an editor will contact you to schedule a time for you to record your Perspective in a studio. If your video or slideshow is chosen to be featured on kqed.org, an editor will contact you as well.

7. For slide shows, can I simply upload my photos?

A photo slideshow uses images to tell a story. Just as a writer is careful about what words she uses, a photographer gives thoughtful consideration to the photos selected, the order of the photos, and the captions that accompany each photo. A photo slideshow should have a narrative structure.

8. For videos, should I simply videotape myself talking?

Only you know the best way to tell your story, but we encourage you to get creative. Think of the images in your home, city, or neighborhood that communicate your ideas. While we love your pretty face, we want to see the world you live in, too. Most importantly, have fun.

9. Can I enter multiple Perspectives? Can I enter Perspectives on both themes?

Yes, but remember that each entry must be original. Participants may only be awarded one grand prize.

10. What information must I supply when I enter?

Each entrant must supply their name, city, age, phone number and email address.

11. What type of file format should I use?

Prepare your content in the highest resolution you can, and hang on to the original files. For audio, we prefer MP3 files.

12. Do I need to save my original video, audio and photo files once I’ve uploaded my submission?

Yes. KQED may need to edit your photos, video or audio using specific applications. We may also recommend small editorial changes.

13. How will entries be judged?

Entries will be judged in their submitted form on creative expression, originality, and storytelling. The judges will include, but will not be limited to, KQED staff. Winners will be notified by February 29, 2010.

14. Can my friends and I enter together?

While group entries may be broadcast or published, prizes will only be awarded to entries submitted by individuals.

15. What if I still have questions?

Send questions to Amanda Stupi at [email protected] or call (415) 553-2414.

16. What else do I need to know?

Well, the really legal stuff might come in handy, so here it is:

A. Once you have entered your Perspective following any of the methods noted above, KQED may edit and publish or broadcast your entry without paying you any compensation:

By submitting your entry into this competition, you hereby grant to KQED and its assigns the royalty-free nonexclusive right to copy, sublicense, edit, modify, publish, transmit, make derivative works, distribute, delete or display the content of the entry and elements embodied within the entry, in whole or in part, worldwide, in any media including television broadcast and via Internet download, streaming, transmission, exhibition or distribution by any computer-mediated networked communication systems, whether now existing or later invented in perpetuity, without limitation and without consideration or acknowledgment to you, including for advertising/publicity purposes without further permission, notice or compensation, except where prohibited by law. You understand, however, that KQED is not assuming any obligation hereunder to broadcast or distribute any Perspective submitted into the contest.

B. Your entry must be original and you must have all rights necessary to grant KQED permission to use the entry.

By participating in this contest, you warrant that your entry is an original work and that KQED’s use of the entry will not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party. Just as one example, you must have the permission of any people pictured in your Perspective. Winners and selected entrants and/or their parents may be required to sign a statement confirming this.

C. Promotion and Publicity.

By entering, in addition to granting KQED the right to publicize portions of your entry, you grant to KQED the right to use your name and likeness in advertising and promotion without further compensation or permission.

On any companion website for your Perspective maintained by or on behalf of you, you agree, for the duration of the competition, to place in a prominent manner that the entry is being entered in the “KQED Youth Perspective Competition,” and to tag your work accordingly on YouTube, Flickr and other media sharing sites. Failure to do so may result in your entry being disqualified from the competition. You also agree not to claim or imply for any reason that KQED is a producer or co-producer of your video.

D. Responsibility for Acceptability of Entries.

You are responsible for ensuring your eligible entry is received by the deadline. KQED is not responsible for incomplete entries or technical difficulties of any kind that may prevent you from timely submitting an eligible entry.

E. Agreement to be Bound

By entering, you agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges and these official rules and to comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations as well as all rules and terms of use posted on KQED.org and the photo or video sharing sites used.

F. Entry and Compliance Disputes

Entries which are mutilated, incomplete, illegible, inaccurate, forged, irregular in any way, or otherwise not in compliance with these official rules are void. In the event of a dispute concerning who submitted an entry, the entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized holder of the e-mail account from which the entry is made on the photo or video sharing site used. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person to whom an email address is assigned by an internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.

Automated entries of any kind, including but not limited to entries submitted using any bot, script, macro, or contest service, and third party entries are not permitted and will be disqualified.

KQED will validate all entries and will determine, at its sole discretion, whether each Perspective meets the entry criteria detailed herein for acceptance as an entry into the contest.

G. Release from Liability

You agree that KQED and related individuals or entities shall not be liable for losses or injuries of any kind resulting from acceptance of prize(s), participation in the contest, individual, joint or collective technical malfunctions of the telephone network and/or transmission line, computer on-line system, computer dating mechanism, computer equipment, hardware and/or software, or any delay or distortion of an entry resulting from data transmissions that are garbled, incomplete, misdirected, lost, mutilated, delayed, corrupted, mechanically duplicated, illegible or otherwise not in compliance with these official rules. You also agree that KQED is not liable for damage to a user’s computer system (including, without limitation, any server failure or lost, delayed or corrupted data or other malfunction) due, either directly or indirectly, to an entrant’s participation in the contest or downloading of information in connection with the contest. KQED reserves the right to modify or cancel the contest in the event that any portion of any website used to administer any aspect of the contest becomes technically corrupted.

H. Contest Sponsor

Northern California Public Broadcasting, Inc., the owner and operator of KQED, is the sponsor of this contest and is referred to throughout these rules as “KQED.” Any reference to KQED includes Northern California Public Broadcasting, Inc. and all stations owned and operated by it.

For more information:
http://www.kqed.org/radio/programs/perspectives/youthcontest.jsp

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Holiday Writing Contest and Our Fundraiser Continues

“If I had been talking about drowning polar bears, people would have been weeping with me.
But nobody recognizes that a bookstore or library can also be a drowning polar bear.”

Author Sherman Alexie
from Mother Jones interview, Nov/Dec 2009

Trying to raise money for a children’s writing contest is similar to what Alexie says about the fate of bookstores and libraries. A writing contest for kids doesn’t portray a cute and fuzzy animal. Perhaps we need an image of a cuddly animal with a pen in his hand?

But on the subject of fundraising we had a fun and busy Saturday event at the Pleasant Hill Barnes and Noble. It continues this week. If you use our voucher found on the California Writers Club website http://mtdiablowriters.org/ and take it to ANY Barnes and Noble through Friday, Dec. 4, our Young Writers Contest receives 10% – 25% of your purchase! At no cost to you!

If you are a middle school (sixth, seventh, eighth grade) student in Contra Costa County you are eligible to submit essays, (personal narratives), poems, and short stories into our contest. I’ll post them here now and then and they are also available at the above CWC website.

HOLIDAY WRITING CONTEST – Sponsored by the Contra Costa Times

What’s your most memorable holiday decoration? Treasured ornament your now 40-year-old son made his first year in kindergarten? A quirky centerpiece the entire family can’t stand? A funny or unique item your parents gave you when you were little? Snap a picture and write a short explanation about what makes it so endearing (or maybe not) and send it to [email protected] or Joan Morris, P. O. Box 5088, Walnut Creek, CA 94598. The Contra Costa Times will publish as many as they can. Deadline is Dec. 9. Include your name, city and contact information.

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New Student Essay Contest . . . Win $1000!

Essay Edge, a college application essay editing service, has launced its Tell your Story College Admission Essay Contest, which awards a grand prize of $1,000. Must submit entry form by Dec. 1, 2009.

Students should fill out the entry form at www.essayedge.com and submit essays between 250 – 1,000 words in length. Entrants must be at least 13 years old and residents of the U.S. Prize winner will be selected on or about Dec. 15.

Essays will be judged by EssayEdge editors and will evaluate entries on proper grammar, spelling and usage; topic and organization; word choice, style and eloquence; creativity and originality; and overall effectiveness.

Limit one entry per person or email address, please; all additional entries will be disregarded and not permitted. Submitting an entry constitutes agreeing to the terms of these Official Rules.

One (1) Grand Prize. One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship in the form of a $1,000 check payable to the winner. Total prize value: $1,000.

Potential prize winner will be selected on or about December 15, 2009 from among all entries received. All essays will be judged by Sponsor.

For entry form or more information visit:
www.essayedge.com.

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Bogey is a Boo! Writing Contests for Kids!

News from the Rat Lady about Bogey! She is settling into her new home quite well. Although she doesn’t bite, she’s not really comfortable being handled, which tells us she hasn’t had a lot of cuddling in her previous home.

Rat Lady has changed Bogey’s name. First it became Boo. Then Baby Boo. Now it’s Little Baby Boo. She’s getting comfortable with her new cage, and will soon meet her “adopted brothers and sisters.” We’ve been promised some pictures, which I’ll post.

Many thanks to the heroine – – three cheers for Rat Lady!

Writing Exercise: Do you have just the right name for your characters? Try them out very carefully. If the name doesn’t “feel” right, experiment with other names until you’ve got the perfect fit. You’ll know it when you have it. Names say a lot about a character.
Where do you find names? I’ve discovered them in movies, books, name books, telephone books, and school roll call lists! If I need a name for a child in 1936, I’ll just open my dad’s diary or yearbook.

I keep a list of unusual names for future stories. Ever hear a name and get a perfect image of a character to go with that name?
*Open a name book and point your finger to a name. Now write a quirky story about that character!
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Writing Contests for Kids!

READ’s annual student poetry contest. Open to grades 6–12. Six winners will receive $100 each and will be featured in a special electronic issue of READ. All submissions must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2009.

Send poems (maximum of two) to:
Ann Arlys Bowler Poetry Contest
READ Magazine
1 Reader’s Digest Road
Pleasantville, NY 10570-7000

READ’s annual essay contest. Open to grades 6–12. Students are asked to imagine waking up 100 years from now. What is the year 2109 like? What do they see? What is the current technology? How do people live? Four winners will receive $100 and have their essays published.

Send essays to:
“Write Into the Future” Contest
READ magazine
1 Reader’s Digest Road
Pleasantville, NY 10570-7000
All submissions must be no longer than 500 words and must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2009.

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Question regarding Essays: What makes one better?

When you gave out the guidelines for the writing contest at least two years ago, you said that students could send in essays. But when you received some essays they were boring and not like you were expecting. Just out of curiosity, what were you expecting and are they different from personal narratives and short stories? If so, how?
Fatima

Fatima – That is an excellent question. Oh heavens. If I said they were boring, I apologize! I MEANT that the students didn’t know what an essay was. That isn’t their fault. The teachers don’t use the word “essay” in their currciulum. We didn’t provide enough information to show what we wanted. What many students turned in were state reports or reports on Martin Luther King that were ONLY factual. An essay might take Martin Luther King and turn it into how he was your hero and why. (How something King said or did became personal for you.) How would you show this through a personal anecdote in your life? This is why we added the words “personal narrative” to our guidelines to help clarify. And it DID help! We received MANY excellent entries! And not many reports this year.

An essay is nonfiction. It can be a personal narrative – – a real experience that happened to you. Those tend to be the most fun to write! There are college-type essays too, that compare literature and convince people of opinions.

Short stories are fiction – – made up stories with a beginning, middle and end.
To the right of this section, there are some pages that detail them a little more.

Writing about your passion is a good subject for any essay. So in my case, I’ll give the example of my dog, Zoie. She is a BIG passion in my life! (see photo at the side and also on my website www.lizbooks.com) And more on my Facebook page, and thousands more at home. . . ahem . . .
I could TELL you all about Zoie. For instance:

I love my dog Zoie. She is cute and funny. She makes me happy when I feel sad. She loved my dad. She misses him now that he is gone. She is a smart dog too. We understand each other even if we don’t say anything. She is the best dog in the world!

Or, I could SHOW you how I feel about Zoie.

I love Zoie. Sometimes her whiskers stick out straight at the side of her face. She scrunches her head in the carpet in the morning, so that ALL her fur stands up around her head. Worse than my bed-head!

When my dad died a few weeks ago, I cried. She jumped into my lap. Placing her paws onto my shoulders, she licked my face, trying to cheer me up. She looked so sad, I felt bad for HER!

On Sunday, when we would bring Dad home in his wheelchair to visit after our trip to the farmer’s market, Zoie would greet him with happy jumps and licks. Since then, we come home laden with fresh vegetables, and no dad.

Zoie’s expressive face was worried. Where was Grandpa? She ran to the front door. She waited. Finally, after we told her Grandpa wasn’t coming, she walked back into the kitchen.

At night when we give her treats, she knows lots of tricks. She’s not sure which one we’ll ask of her so she’ll quickly do ALL of the tricks, one after another, to see if she can get a treat FAST!

Zoie and I have an unspoken language. Certain looks and motions mean certain things. “How do you know she needs to go out? How do you know she wants her SOFT blanket?” My husband is puzzled with the way we communicate, by only looks, body motions, and dog vocalizations.

“Did you see that look she gave me?” I ask.
“What look?” asks Bob.
“The sideways look?” I say.
“It means she wants to cuddle because she feels ignored.”
Bob rolls his eyes.
He doesn’t say what he mumbles any louder, because Zoie might come to my defense.

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