As everyone learns, Truth is not Fiction--either spoken or read--so, if I may share with you a little Non-Fiction today, as an incident in my life, I'd appreciate your kindness in being my invisible but important confidantes.Jim and I lost a friend of almost 12 years,  yesterday, and we will miss him, at odd moments, over the next several months--our beautiful, loyal, gallant, black Belgian sheepdog, Jay Bar Y's Trooper.  The struggle to, literally, keep on his feet and keep going was, inevitably, too much for him and he told us so, yesterday morning.  HIs tired, faded eyes looked at me and said, "I can't keep going, Mom, anymore--you go on without me", and our smart and caring vet, Brett Jones, and his delightful and sympathetic wife, Renee, came over and made sure Trooper didn't have to struggle to lift his body on legs that could no longer carry him. 

Himself and I have walked dogs for over 40 years and I decided that I would continue the morning walk even without "Troops" so I could remain in the habit for the next dog.  Oh, sure there'll be a "next dog"--does the sun rise in the East?--but not for awhile because we believe (and so do the animal experts) that you need a time of mourning for your pet.

The caring library staff and close neighbors have been supportive--after all, when you bury a pet there goes those years of your life, too--so, if I'm talking to you and a large black dog`goes by, for just a split second--.  I am SO grateful to Bonnie's mother-in-law, Lois Frederick, for letting me see and pat and share the stories of this breed (of which she's had three!) and it was Lois' obvious love and admiration for them that led me to Spitfire Kennels in Texas, outside of Dallas, to pick out a black bundle of fur with golden eyes to bring home. Basta! Enough! I have half-my-dog-, Manny, on one side (whom maybe Dennis and I can train to walk quietly on the particular leash for dogs that hold them back to a quiet walking pace!) and the delightful Avery on the other--plus Bill Hill's elegant Vislavs, Janet Willimon's golden Lab and Eskimo dog, etc. A toast to Trooper and every dog who is loved AND CARED FOR by their people. Salud!

Well, from Trooper to Paris Hilton--or any of the Hilton's--there is no easy segue so we'll just talk about a book that touches on all of them--""House of Hilton; From Conrad to Paris; A Drama of Wealth, Power and Privilege", by Jerry Oppenheimer. Something that I was surprised to learn was that Paris was NOT going to be eligible for a large share of Conrad Hilton's family's fortune. No, she's not "on the dole", as the Brits say, but if she wants a lot of money, she'll have to work for it or marry into it--which she was apparently going to in the persons of two Greek shipping magnate heirs until the boy's families made it VERY PLAIN that "the promiscuous innkeeper's daughter" was not welcome in their family! 

Someone who's spent a lot of time with her said, "Work is not Paris' forte, but she's really kind of serious about all of it--she's bright about three things--money, men,and how to get attention--and those are the only things she really cares about.  She's basically self-centered and she doesn't speak in long sentences and words are not her game (on this description I thought I'd choke!) but she can be clever and funny and, oddly, makes fun of herself."  Why not? There's a lot to make fun of!  The names of well-known Hollywood stars is in here--married and related to the Hiltons such as Elizabeth Taylor-- and her son, Nick, and if a true story of property, wild parties, fabulous jewelry are your "escape", come and get this book. 

Bill O"Reilly has certainly made a name for himself questioning the values and direction of famous people, important thinkers and, ultimately, this country. "Culture Warrior" is his latest and, as his loyal  followers might expect, he sets forth his premise that we--all of us--are in the midst of a very real culture war "between those who embrace traditional values and those who want to change America into a secular-progressive  country." (Don't give me those blank looks--).

It is, he says, in many ways different from the usual division we're used to hearing about--i.e. conservative vs. liberal--and he talks about the forces--and people--behind the propaganda and agenda for the secular-progressive programs and beliefs.  It's evident, says our Bill, in the movie, "The Passion of the Christ", "Fahrenheit 9/11", child abuse and the color of our potholders (sorry--the "potholders" is mine--couldn't resist!)

Let me tell you now, RIGHT NOW, that this is an intelligent man, with several books, his own TV show, and is an admired four steps above Rush Limbaugh in his rants, opinions, and the time and ability to grill people, disagree with them, and alert the rest of us to the dangers we face. As  his book editor says, on the back flyleaf, "Whatever  controversies are roiling the nation, he fearlessly confronts them". Okay--but just remember, dear readers, that this book and the opinions he expresses are HIS. I tend to be more than a trifle skeptical of them who get heated and upset over events and politics that THEY don't like and try real hard to bring everyone ELSE into their camp. 

It's obvious that he feels he is a Traditional Warrior and his code is on pg. 206 followed, on pg.207 about how hard it has been on him and the enemies he has faced and on the FIRST page of the preface says, "At times you HAVE to fight--no way around it" which really has a grain of truth in it. Most people would rather sit it out and see how bad things are going to get and while all of us have an innate idea/compass/common sense feeling of how things OUGHT to go, we do need prodding to get us aroused. Enter Bill O'Reilly?  Perhaps. Maybe.  Somebody come and read this whole book and then tell me what you think HE thinks about the divisions in this country ALONG THE LINES THAT CONCERN HIM!  Gracious! I've rarely taken this much time over one book--let us scurry on!

Someone whom we all admired and liked to see and hear from, during the presidential campaign of 2004 was Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of John Edwards vice-presidential candidate, and her book is "Saving Graces; Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers". She is so pretty, on the cover, that I just know we'd all like to sit down, over a "cuppa", and just exchange life experiences with her--the way I feel about all my close friends! I love and appreciate them in my life--particularly now! Elizabeth has been diagnosed with and fought advanced breast cancer--she learned it two days before the 2004 campaign!--and lost her 16 yr-old-son in 1996! 

The theme of her book is the theme of her life that she had, the last three or four years--the quiet encouragement, advice, joys, and lessons learned from the friends AND strangers she met.  Elizabeth said she learned how to make friends easily in new schools and neighborhoods (sorry, it sounds like MORE than the last few years!)  and her remembrances of how she and others who had lost children--teenage or other ages--helped each other gain quiet strength. 

I found it a hoot to read about some of her memories of the campaign--or before they actually "hit the road". I had no idea what "vetting "was--and still is--for those candidates who are running for, at least, a national office! There's tales of  having Secret Service agents with them --a lot!-- and  Washington  mores and morality (or lack of it) and, all in all, this book is a good bet to read, so come and check it out.

Tell me who this is--answer follows as I review her life experiences in a new book written about her--and think" adventurous!"  This world-renowned lady is best known as an author and diarist, was born into a wealthy family and led a very sheltered life, married a famous aviator at the beginning of flight-opening horizons, and their child was abducted and murdered. 

Guessed her name? I'm sure many of you did and for the rest it's Amme Morrow Lindbergh and the book is "Anne Morrow Lindbergh; First Lady of the Air", by Kathleen Winters, who is a flight instructor--or WAS--and an aviation historian. She describes the bringing up of this quiet, reserved woman, her romance with Charles, the amazing journeys they took together--across five continents to such really remote (back then)regions as Russia, the desolate Arctic ice and snow wastelands and China. Bear in mind that there were no handy little airports to land in, should your plane need gas or repair, as there are now--this was the at the true beginning of air travel.

Eventually, Anne came to the realization that  aviation and writing did not co-exist very compatibly in her nature and one of them would have to go and in 1937, when her license expired, she did not renew it. Before her marriage, she had been TOO suppressed, TOO literary and, marrying Charles, "I was plunged into life--active life--loving and living and having children and those terrific trips and the suffering, too"  (I imagined, here, that she referred to the baby's death). She and Charles had invited the famous, daring French flying ace, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, to come and visit and he entranced and won Anne's great admiration in describing his many brushes with death.

I MUST digress here a moment to tell you that Saint-Exupery said something once I've always remembered and came to believe; "It doesn't matter so much what YOU think of a man as what he thinks of himself" so be careful how you speak TO and OF and RELATE stories to someone. 

Many of Anne's contemporaries met a young and tragic end--Amelia Earhart, Wiley Post, Amy Johnson and Jean Mermoz to name a few. As a mother and a woman, I have always loved Anne's poetry and I would like to see the house they had on Maui, where Charles died in '74; Anne considered writing a sequel to "Gift from the Sea" but, apparently, never did although she did continue writing.She retired to her daughter Reeve's farm,in Vermont, and Feb.7, 2001, she lay quiet and ill and the birds on the snow-covered trees outside had no made a sound for several days. When she died, the birds came and landed on the branches of the trees outside her window, and were there to watch Anne Morrow Lindbergh make her final flight.

And this is MY "final flight" from this week's column and thanks for reading it and "being there", even though I can't see you. This is a reminder, as I"ve done before, that this library is your gateway to entertainment, enlightenment, "escape"from the world and a great place to just come in and sit in one of our chairs with three or four books to look through before deciding which one to take home! 

One quick note, a book to look into (and it's small and not thick, so you can read it easily)is JImmy Carter's "Palestine; Peace not Apartheid". Stay warm, endure the almost constant cold weather--which is, actually, very good for giving moisture to trees, lawns, shrubs, and weeds!--drink plenty of water, use body CREAMS or OILS, not lotions (they dry out the skin further) and learn how to fix a tasty hot chocolate "cuppa"--keep your gas tank at least half-full, and know that Spring is on its way. Pat your dog or cat for me and think seriously about making a modest donation to the Animal Shelter here, in LIberal--they can always use it and Trooper knew what it was like to look forward to mealtime and having his own blanket--you can also donate blankets and sacks of dog food but check with the shelter first.See ya! Bye!