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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi all-<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks to Jo Pinto, I’ll be at the virtual exhibit next week. I thought this would be a good time to share something. I hope some of you drop by to our zoom room and talk about books, writing, and whatever, <span style='font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif'>😊</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I made the dive into recording short pieces of my prose and poetry. It’s still amateurish, I am planning to learn how to do audio editing soon but thought I’d share some of it. This is the first of three short essays about my first guide, Verona. The text and audio are included. Text is first, audio link to dropbox is at the end. If you have trouble hearing the audio file, email me <a href="mailto:anniecms64@gmail.com">anniecms64@gmail.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Verona’s Adventures<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greenwood Lake -- August 2011<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By Ann Chiappetta <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>She knew where we were as soon as we pulled into the parking lot.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Are we at the free place? She seemed to say, I love this place.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I get to swim, run free and poop in the woods. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We unloaded the truck, weaved through the other guests on the way to our room and settled in for a fun relaxing afternoon. Verona and my daughter played in the lake for an hour, the funniest thing was the way she would blow water from her mouth after dropping the stick. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It made her lips puff out and made a loud, spitting sound that I could hear from the patio.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>When the geese and ducks realized she was visiting, they left the grass and stayed in the lake weeds near the dock. It was a thrill to see her body stiffen, her head and tail go up when she saw them. It made me feel proud to share this time together, giving her back to her instincts for just a little while.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>She’s going to be five years old, I thought, the time goes by so fast. Each and every year we have together is a blessing, a time for me to feel unfettered. Free.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As we stand and watch the birds quack and waddle down the hill toward the edge of the lake, I try to think back on the way life was before training with Verona but my mind veers from those dark moments and I let them go. We are here, being warmed by the late afternoon sun, taking in the freshwater aromas. We are dog and woman, partners for however long time and fate permit. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I place a hand on her glossy head and stroke it; she gives me a quick poke with her nose before returning to watching the ducks paddle away in the sun dappled water. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/mru6tp58kmiq52l/Verona%20adventure%20lake.mp3?dl=0">https://www.dropbox.com/s/mru6tp58kmiq52l/Verona%20adventure%20lake.mp3?dl=0</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ann Chiappetta, Author<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Anniecms64@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>` Making meaningful connections with others through writing `<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>914.393.6605<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.annchiappetta.c/">www.annchiappetta.c</a>om Facebook Annie Chiappetta<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:15.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333'>“We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” </span><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#333333;text-align:center;line-height:15.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><b><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'> Joseph Campbell<o:p></o:p></span></b></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>