Photo taken on my grandparent's farm when I was possibly four or five years old. My grandfather was killed a month before I turned six, so it has to be before that. I just look kind of excited and brave to put my hand on the side of the cow. I love the hand on the hip, too! I was thinking that I maybe remember when it was taken, but I think that's the curse of the photograph memory. If I truly remembered it, I'd remember who took the photo (possibly my father) but I have no memory of that at all. I do know I loved going out to the farm, loved the animals from the Border Leicester sheep to the milking cow, to riding on the tractor and all the farm stuff. Good times.
I was with a bunch of writers recently and heard the phrase, "Golden Retriever hero." What on earth? Were golden retrievers a thing in books now? I used to have a golden retriever, adore them, but what was going on? Why not the Scottish Terrier or the Jack Russell, or if we're going large, the Old English Sheepdog? Well, actually it doesn't refer to the dogs at all. It is in fact a reference to a type of hero, inspired from the dog, with all the attributes of the Golden: loyalty, warmth, affection, kindness, and those lovely qualities. You learn something every day. You really do!