It has bee three years since Meredith Mancuso's fiance,
Kyle, was
murdered. After all the "what ifs", Meredith
has become a recluse. A successful author of a romantic
Ghost Ranch series, Meredith is blocked and having trouble
creating her overdue sequel. Countless, unanswered calls
from her editor, threatening her to return the money paid
in
advance. She sleeps constantly and when awake, she watches
cooking shows on TV with the sound muted. Piles of dirty
dishes, unread mail, she is unkempt not bothering to shower
or comb her hair. She ignores all communication from family
and friends.
One afternoon, her sister, Monica, knocks at her apartment
door; she is holding a Yorkshire Terrier, named
Prozac. Prozac is the pet of Monica's best client, Helen
Hendrix.
Helen has been hospitalized with a broken ankle, and she
has
asked Monica to pet-sit. Monica is allergic and is
unable to do it. Because Meredith works from home, Monica
feels she can do her a favor and care for Prozac. After
refusing, Monica begs Meredith to come to her aid. Meredith
relents. Prozac is left in her care and their journey
together begins.
Never having a pet, Meredith and Prozac have a rocky
beginning. Their time together is full of trials and
hilarious experiences. Prozac is a Certified Therapy Dog
who has a busy schedule with standing appointments with
"his
people" at Evergreen Gardens, which is an independent
living
facility. Prozac is a star there, who has his own fan club
including a judge. The residents of Evergreen Gardens are
colorful, loving, and
each with a story all their own. Prozac is truly special,
smart, loved by all. He always makes the person feel
better, leaving them with a smile on their face. Meredith
finds new friends, a sweet romance with Razzle-Dazzle
David
Radcliff, who I fell in love with too.
I had to put THE THING IS down almost at the conclusion and
think about the unexpected events happening; I cried and
continued on. Kathleen Gerard is a sterling storyteller who
held my heart in her hands from start to finish. I
recommend THE THING IS to everyone who is a pet lover (or
not) and
to anyone who is grieving or facing the unknown. THE THING
IS
brings hope, happiness, and new beginnings. This is my BEST
read
this year, and my thanks and kudos to Ms. Gerard. You
nailed
it!
Can a woman mired deep in the throes of grief have
her
heart and soul rallied by a therapy dog with supernatural
wisdom and a canine Mensa IQ?
Meredith Mancuso is depressed. Ever
since the death of her fiancé, she has shrunk from the
world. Even with her
successful writing career, she's not motivated to work.
When
her sister,
Monica, begs for a favor, Meredith wants nothing more than
to say no. But she’s
ultimately roped into pet-sitting an orphaned Yorkshire
terrier named Prozac.
Blessed with spiritual wisdom and a
high IQ, Prozac is an active pet therapy dog. To heal
broken-hearted Meredith,
he rallies his fan club at Evergreen Gardens, an
independent
living facility,
where he visits each week.
Prozac and the community of resilient older
folks challenged by losses of their own propel Meredith,
often against her
will, back into the land of the living. Meredith learns
that
most people carry
some sort of burden, but it's still possible to find
meaning, purpose, and
joy—and sometimes, even love—along the way.