Excerpts:

1. [from Chapter One, Winter]

…sometimes life is excruciating and sad
and sometimes that is all that is.
No consolation exists
except an instinctual compassion that fights
its way to the conscious mind, reminding it that
life’s wheel will turn around.
And turn it did….

2. [from  Chapter Three, Summer]

One day, after the birds of prey had eaten,
a pair of bald eagles, longtime friends of Lucky, issued a special call. Eagles appeared from every part of the valley, their children, maybe, or
        grandchildren.
Was it a celebration? A meeting to plan their
        September
fishing retreat on the mainland? or was it
        just for the fun
of being together? Together. The word
        resonated in the dog
who had roamed without ties for
        most of his adult years.

3. [from Chapter Five, Another Winter]

Easy to forget to extend love
and respect to the dear self, especially
in the winter of life, looking back,
remembering mistakes more than successes.
Ancient sages advise remembering
without harsh judgment, for such
criticism makes wisdom hide
like a chastised child, making it impossible
to pass it on to those who follow.

Wendy E. Shepard and John J. (“Jeff”) Brash established the San Juan Valley Press in 2012 to publish Lucky to be Alive: A Love Story, a narrative poem written by Wendy and illustrated by Jeff. While the book’s hero is Lucky, a Border Collie, his journey is common to us all as we look for the wonder, and our changing purpose, in every season of life. It is based on true happenings; Jeff and Wendy had the privilege of caring for Lucky during the last ten years of his life.

Reader Reviews:

What a delight! My wife and I read chapters to each other on a rainy day. It's a lyrical story about life, adventure, curiosity, and love – all from the perspective of Lucky, a border collie with keen insights about the human spirit. JS, California

  “Lucky to be Alive: A Love Story” is a rich and moving parable of the universal need to find one’s own life, do well by it, and do well with it. It is a world view imbued with a truth to be found in nature.” HH, North Carolina

  “Lucky to be Alive: A Love Story” is a spiritual as well as a humorous journey through the four seasons of a dog's life. A rollercoaster ride mixing the comic with the sublime, this story blithely mixes up genres of free verse epics, animal-centered literature, and paeans to the natural world. I chuckled often, I paused and let the thoughts sink in, and I enjoyed throughout the flow of the writing and beauty of the descriptions. I think that readers who thrill to the natural world will truly enjoy this book. BLS, Massachusetts

  Phenomenal. "Lucky To Be Alive" is an amazing story about love, laughter, and a mischievous dog named Lucky. The poetic writing is beautifully descriptive and had me saying "Wow" under my breath several times. If you prefer books that have great writing, great storytelling, and a greater meaning behind it all, you should definitely buy this excellent book. KW, New York

  I do appreciate good writing and the wordsmith is first rate. This is the story of a very lucky Border Collie who finds the perfect home...after a few tries. I highly recommend it for those folks who enjoy the dog’s life and are enamored with a dog’s eye view of the world. AS, Washington