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Attorney and former neighbor Earl Tison, whom I desired to adopt the moment I met him, exclaimed frequently, "Susie, if anybody should start a blog, it would be you!" Computer-less at that particular time, I had no concept of precisely what he might be, as a consequence of myriad moon-light porch chats at his house or mine. Guessing that the Republican son of a preacher usually regarded me as an unconventional thinker, nevertheless this kid always "got" me, and, wow, did we ever have a blast exchanging philosophies and ideas? (I pray for my ideasideals, sooner rather than later, to be considered, BTW!)Fast forward to present day with me in possessiona Dell andcyberspace. I am religiously assisted by my agent/engineer son Roy Sexton whom I nicknamedafter the wily genius-editor who'll be portrayed in a forthcoming film by handsome, swoon-worthy Britisher Colin Firth, co-starring with Michael Fassbender as famed North Carolina novelist Thomas Wolfe from whom I stole theof my newspaper column. Perkins wisely tweaked Wolfe's original title "O, Lost!" to assure best-selling status of Tom's semi-autobiographical debut novel "Look Homeward, Angel" (1929)-- much to the author's initial chagrin.Earl was correct. I adore blogging because I can be who I truly am there … I do not capitalize or punctuate ever. I insist upon! Yes, I…don't we all? Be honest! I once referred to myself as "e.e.cummings & goings" when e-mailing. (Hoping many of you comprehend my tantalizing frame of reference there…if not,away!) I employ my favorite device called the "ellipsis" which has become my middle name by now…sounds so Grecian or exotic! What is particularly fun is the discovery of other bloggers who writewhat they feel and perceive about this world of ours as well. I know three of those--an animal activist who agrees totally with my views on pigs' intelligence and rights of sentient beings to live out their lives quoting me in her blog "Other Nations" , my own kid "reelroy" who rushes home from movie theaters to compose snappy movie reviews, and cute free-spirited Michigander Beth Kennedy who has now become "family" forever!Beth's " I Didn't Have My Glasses On … () A Trip Through Life with Fingers Crossed and Eternal Optimism" featured author Roy and his ma recently. (BTW, Blogging Beth does not capitalize either as you'll note!) "We discovered last fall, in blog world, that we were connected through many different avenues, and mutual close friends. amazingly we had never crossed paths in real life. until…I attended a wonderful and unusual book signing at our local ann arbor senior center with guest author susie sexton who read and offered anecdotes from her book, and local roy sexton, susie sexton's son, (known throughout michigan for his cabaret style performances) sang some of his mom's favorite musical show tunes. they kept the audience laughing and clapping, and roy was there to support his mother's wonderful endeavor." Wow?She continued (her blog entry peppered with several candid photos, too )…"and just yesterday, I attended son roy's own book signing at a new ann arbor local independent book store ( ‘bookbound’ and susie was there to return the favor…roy (snarky and smart blogging movie reviewer) sang (accompanied by longtime friend and fellow theater musician, rebecca biber) and read aloud and answered (terrific) questions and susie was there to support him…they may have to create a 'sexton section' in their shop." Beth entitled her entry, " six degrees of sexton-ation " and included a Punta Cana photo of a rubber raft floating about carrying sun-tan lotion, towels, sunglasses and a copy of Roy's paperback, captioned: "Following the Ann Arbor "book-signing-singing" on April 26, we headed back to Roy's multi-gabled spacious house and got gifted with Cher's "" t-shirts and a "Duncan" Scottish Coat of Arms replica and then played with our adoptedrescued Dachshund Lucy and Black Lab Valvoline -- both plucked from Eight Mile Road traffic a few years back. Returning home to Indiana, we stayed up late posting pix of the afternoon, one of which featured Don Sexton's latest "Mike Biddle hair-cut" eliciting an e-mail from that popular barber's sister Jo who praised her sibling's handi-work. Of course, upon scanning and uploading (or is it downloading) our digital memories, I sent them to Roy who had regaled his bookstore audience with a jazzy tune called " This is the Life " from the Sammy Davis musical "Golden Boy" based on the 1939 William Holden film () which was adapted from the Clifford Odets 1937 play of the same name. Roy, of course, posting the resultant Facebook slide-show : "With references to forgotten Broadway musicals and even more forgotten films ('Buckaroo Banzai' or 'Time Bandits', anyone?), analysis of my ongoing 'war' with the Cher-army, many funny asides, boffo binge-book-buying by all in attendance, and a whole lot of zany fun, yesterday's bookevent was a hit."One of my favorite poems of all time "Vagabond's House", written in 1928 by Don Blandings an owner of two pampered canines as well as a friend of movie star Joan Crawford, includes a vibrantly accurate passage:Well, Mr. Blandings, in 2014 let usto your apotheosis of adopted dogs -- because from my experience, a dog and a blog arepleasurable as is a "cat in a hat" --just ask(My new pen name?)Drex Morton: "I enjoyed catching up with some of my favorite people through Susie's enviable and lovely lens into a world that is becoming..."Jim DeMaegt: "Thomas Wolf-Wolf-Wolf!!!"Jean Armstrong: "Susie doing what Susie Sexton does best!!! My pleasure to read and acknowledge quality!!!"Karrie Noble: "LOL! The black dog's name is 'Valvoline!' I love it. ♥"Beth Kennedy: "you are whirlwind and a wonder susie sexton, and i am happy to know you. great post"Jo Powers Biddle: "Roy, you and your mom are simply the best. I'm so happy that your mom and I reconnected after more than 50 years. YIPES. Also, I'm delighted to be your FB friend. I am sure that I already mentioned that but I feel compelled to repeat it!"Megan Andrews Blackshear: "Aw, sweet, thanks for the link!"Other Nations: "'the discovery of other bloggers who write exactly what they feel and perceive about this world of ours as well. I know three of those--an animal activist who agrees totally with my views on pigs' intelligence and rights of sentient beings to live out their lives quoting me in her blog Other Nations ...' THANKS Roy! THANKS Susie! Here's to telling it like it is...hope you guys are well and thriving!"Tari Joyce: "NICE !!! ( I know my spelling is getting better reading your Blogs...Words Mania !!! Love It !!! )"Helen Cochrane: "I always enjoy Susie's writing - strong influences of Roy Duncan. Thanks."Julie Jo: "Thank you :) Love it <3"________________________Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).The books are also carried by these fine retailers: Ann Arbor's Bookbound and Common Language ; Columbia City's Memory Lane North Side Grille and Whitley County Historical Museum ; and Fort Wayne's The Bookmark And you can download from iTunes Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or Won't