Nashville Friends: Jack's Good Messages will be available at Art & Soul's Holiday Art Market, December 6, 10 - 4. (Art & Soul, 4340 Sidco Dr, Nashville, TN 37204.) I'll be out of town, but my minions will be at the booth with Jack's Good Messages. Come see us! Sometimes I find myself not knowing what actions to take in this world of chaos. So I've turned to my alter ego and furry friend, Jack the Scottie, who has some good messages for all of us. Work for Good (Who would be

Dear Diary, Mom and I were out walking. I saw A Squirrel being chased by A Cat. The Squirrel ran up the tree. And then, The Cat ran up the tree!!! How. Did. He. Do. That?!?!? Love, JJ

Dear Diary, This has been the Strangest Year of My Life. March 2020: The moms are home all the time and I am VERY TIRED from having to Supervise Them All Day. They are Very Busy. April 2020: It’s not so bad having the moms here. I like hanging out. May 2020: I get to watch Doggie TV. It is Very Entertaining. June 2020: I saw a CAT! July 2020: Something BIG Happened. I went to camp and when I got home, there was a JJ in my house! August 2020: I am EXHAUSTED from playing with a

<p>Dear Diary, Yesterday was Very Weird. We got up at the same time as every day, but Mom did NOT feed us. Then she took JJ for a ride in the car. And then, she came back without JJ. It was a very nice day. Mom fed me my breakfast and we went for a [&hellip;]</p>

Dear Diary, I have been Very Nervous this week. Today The Plumber came and I could Not Stop Barking. Mom made me wear my ThunderShirt. I felt so calm that I could hardly move. Mom was wondering if there is a ThunderShirt for Hoomans like her. Until next time. Love, Arya

Dear Diary, We went to Camp Tracy for a vacation!! This was JJ’s first time at Camp. I have been going ever since I was a tiny puppy. Mom and Mama sent JJ’s bed so he wouldn’t feel homesick. Biggie and Shooey came to camp and we got to play with them. JJ and Biggie are good friends. Shooey and Biggie and JJ are still little. I am the playground monitor. When we came home, JJ and I were very, very tired. JJ fell asleep by the water bowl. Now I need to go take a nap. Until next

Run. Run. Run. Run. Bark. Run. Run. Run. Run. Chew. Chew. Chew. Run. Run. Run. Run. Nap.

Dear Diary, JJ and I like to play. We like to play outside and inside. We like to play in the morning and in the evening. We like to play at night. JJ follows me everywhere. Even into the wild backyard. JJ likes to bark. But it hurts my ears. I have to bark, too, to tell him he is too loud. Mama takes my collar off when I play because JJ keeps biting it. Yesterday he accidentally bit my nose. Then I accidentally whacked him and told him, “NO NOSE BITING!” I wrote this haiku.

Dear Diary, JJ is not leaving. Here is how I know: 1. Mom and Mama said We Are a Family. 2. Mom took a picture of us on the Top Step. But I am still the Top Dog. JJ has to sleep in The Crate. I get to sleep in The Bed. JJ likes to play. I played tug with JJ. He is so little that I just stood there while he pulled and pulled. I wrote this haiku. JJ is staying. Someday he will get bigger. But I’m the Top Dog. Love, Arya

Dear Diary, Mom and Mama came to Camp Tracy to pick me up. They were holding a puppy named JJ. When it was time to go home, JJ CAME IN THE CAR, TOO!! He is going to live with us, I think. At least, so far, he is still here and It Has Been Two Nights!!! Yesterday, he barked at me and did lots of play bows. I let him sniff me. I stole his flip chip and his yellow carrot and he didn’t even notice. Last night, he fell asleep on me. Someday, if I feel like it, I will play with hi

We drove east out of Nashville On a pilgrimage to pick up JJ. ("JJ," "Junior," "Jack, Jr.") As we traveled, A rainbow hung in the sky above us. Mile after mile after mile, We watched it curve through the sky. What a joyful sign! From you, dear Jack? And then, a double rainbow ... And we knew that your spirit was traveling with us. You ... And all the company of furry, winged saints Were singing a blessing for the tiny pup Joining our family. Bless this new life. Bless this fa

Dear Jack, A year ago today we celebrated your 8th birthday, but you were not feeling well. A year ago tomorrow, you crossed the Rainbow Bridge and our hearts were broken. We still miss you … the click-click-click of your feet on the floor. Your giant bark that let us know we were not keeping up our part of the household agreement. We even miss the trail of water your beard left on the floor after you got a drink. And … you are still here in so many ways. When your Book of Bl

Dear Diary, The squirrels are keeping a Squirrel Nursery on My Deck. There are three baby squirrels eating the bird food. My job is to chase them away. I am Very Busy in my job. I watch out the window and I watch out of the dog door. When I Run Out and Bark, they go away. For a few minutes. This job is hard work. Mom says I am a Good Dog. Until next time, Arya

Bless this party, full of fun. And bless to me these friends. Bless this beautiful Spring day, And bless to me the sounds of laughter, of bird songs. Bless these snacks of cookies and lemonade, And bless to me the bags of dog treats. Bless these people gathering in celebration. And bless to me their love of dogs, of cats, Of creatures with which they share their lives. Bless our Jack, who still brings joy to the world. And bless to me his wee book of Celtic poems. Bless to me

Dear Diary, There are some Very Strange Things going on in the neighborhood. We were on a Walk and Mom said I should Sit. I Sat and those big dogs were Staring at me. Mom said I could Help Pull Santa’s Sleigh. I asked if there would be Treats. Mom just laughed. There is a Visitor at our house. He is a Hooman from Ohio. He throws my toys and gives me Treats. I like him. Until next time. Love, Arya

Last night I dreamed of Jack. He was lost, but I knew he had Crossed the road And gone into the woods. I walked into the forest And climbed to the top of a pine tree. There was a nest there, Rocking like a cradle In the gentle breeze. The trees showed me the nest And told me he was safe, Gently rocked, Held close. When I got back to the ground I could see, far off, a circle of dancing women. White flowing dresses, Radiant warm light bathing them from above, Their arms swayed

Dear Diary, I finally found out what Mom was doing Up There On the Table for A Very Very Long Time. Love, Jack

Dear Diary, Mom and I took walk and it turned out Very Exciting. We were almost home and the Very Big and Scary Dog got loose from his owner and started running towards us. He Chased Me Around Mom about three times and his leash tied her up. I was screaming and screaming and people started coming from all the houses. Mom’s feet were tied up by the Big Dog’s leash, so she fell down backwards in the street and then the Very Big and Scary Dog couldn’t go anywhere. The Big Dog’s

Dear Diary, There was This Tail. It belonged to Jack. But he left it right there in front of me. Right above the bed where I was sleeping. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t help myself. I couldn’t resist. But every time I moved closer to The Tail, Mom sounded Very Angry. I would never hurt The Tail. But I wanted to pull it Just A Little Bit. Then Jack moved. And The Tail moved, too. Oh Well. Maybe next time. Love, Arya

Dear Diary, The Best Thing has happened!! There is a New Invention that has come to our house. It is called A Dog Door. It is just for Dogs Like Me to go In and Out of the House. A Man came two weeks ago. When he left, then we had The New Dog Door. It was The Best Day of My Life. I went In and Out and In and Out and Out and In. When I don’t feel like going all the way out, I can peek out the door. I like to Run Outside and Scare the Squirrels off My Deck. Mom says it makes me