8 State Hurricane Kate

On Wednesday I had the great pleasure of joining the Laughing Ladies Book Club as they discussed 8 State Hurricane Kate in St. Paul. It was fun to hear their discussion and answer their questions about the book. One question that momentarily stumped me was “What are the main lessons that you learned from your experiences?” After thinking for a moment, I decided that one main lesson was that if you are strongly called to do something, find a way to do it. I felt compelled to go to Louisiana to help care for rescued animals after Hurricane Katrina, but I couldn’t find anyone to go with me. I ended up going by myself, and making many wonderful friends there who had the same compulsion and share the same convictions. When I think today about how different my life would be if I hadn’t taken the opportunity to follow that compulsion, I’m very grateful for the journey, for knowing Kate, for my new friends and for all that I learned along the way. If I had not made that decision to go to Louisiana, just because I couldn’t find anyone to go with me, I would have missed all this. It was my calling and I’m glad that I followed it. Don’t let fear of the unknown keep you from following your calling. Remember, you can drive all the way across the country in the dark if you have headlights that illuminate the few feet in front of you. But if you don’t take your foot off the brake, you won’t go anywhere.

Another lesson that I learned was how to ask for help when I needed it. I learned how many caring people across the country and even the world were following Kate’s story, and I learned the power of a caring network of people. When each one contributes something, together we can accomplish great things. That network of people continues to help dogs that are in trouble today, mainly via the AuCaDo Rescue Forum.

Here’s a photo of the Book Club at Trotter’s Café in St. Paul.

Soon I’ll post some audio clips from our discussion.