Spunky Finds a Home

Our story begins ten years ago at an Aahs in Santa Monica.

I was looking for a gift for my roommate. I got him a rainbow-colored lizard beanie baby. I felt bad getting only one item (I'm weird that way), so I looked for another thing to buy. That's when I saw Spunky.

Spunky is a cocker spaniel beanie baby, and just plain adorable. I thought that if I ever had a girlfriend, and if she meant that much to me, I would give her Spunky. And my girlfriend would say, "OMG I love him so much!!!" She would fall madly in love with me and...yeah.


*Spunky, left. Me passed out from too many margaritas, right.*

Spunky would sit on my bookshelf for the next eight years. Girls would enter my life, then leave. Nobody came close to being Spunky-worthy. When I moved from my apartment to my townhouse, Spunky was packed in a box, collecting dust and shame.

Our story skips ahead to last Saturday. K and I were set to drive down to San Diego for my Mom's birthday. As I was ready to head out, I had a strong feeling come over me. A voice ran through my head as clear as day: "Find Spunky."

Spunky lay in an open cardboard box in my closet. I stuffed him in my backpack, along with the ring I bought the month prior. I picked up K at her place, and we were on our way.

The 5 South going to SD on an early Saturday afternoon, if you didn't already know, sucks. As K chatted with her friend on her cell, I panicked. How am I going to do this? I don't have a speech. I just have a stuffed cocker spaniel. I could stop on our way back...Or I could wait two weeks, when we both have no plans. But...I don't know if I can wait that long...And what if she can sense that I'm about to propose? Shoot...

The traffic continued to crawl. We were about to hit Oceanside, when I saw an exit coming up to a View Point. I've passed by this exit a hundred times without giving it a second thought. My heartbeat picked up. My stomach twisted. I took a deep breath.

"I need a break from the traffic," I said. "OK," She replied, eyes glued to her phone, in the middle of texting somebody. Perfect. She doesn't suspect a thing.

The View Point, official name Las Flores View Point, was full of squirrels, tourists and bees. As Karen finished her text, I reached in the backseat for Spunky. And the ring. It was time.

We walked toward the edge of the View Point, where a bush gave us some cover. I turned to her. "I wanna give you something. But you have to close your eyes. And hold out your hand." I placed Spunky in the hand of his new owner. I said things I don't remember saying. I asked her a question. I got down on one knee. She said yes. I asked her again just to make sure she heard me the first time. She said yes again. We held each other for an hour. We prayed that God would watch over us. Then we got back in the car (avoiding the bees) and drove on.


*Spunky's new owner*

Our story continues. It's the best story I've ever been a part of. It's a story that will get better every day. Thank you to everyone reading this, for your support and friendship. I hope we can see you all face to face and thank you personally.



Our deepest and sincerest love,

Karen and Eman

Books and (e)Books

Last week, Amazon announced the coming of the next generation of the Kindle. For the past week, I've been having a conversation with myself that goes something like this:

"Get the Kindle already."
"Now? But I like actual books."
"What do you think e-books are?"
"They're not real books!"
"Oh, BS. Do paper and binding really mean anything? It's about the words. It's about READING."
"True..."
"Besides, do you know how many free books there are out there?"
"Yeah."
"So get it already. It's cheap. You have Amazon Reward points, for crying out loud."
"Ehhhh..."

And on and on and on...

There's something about the physical book; The turning of pages, the musty smell of the paper, the way strangers strain for a glance at the title of whatever you're reading at Coffee Bean.

Also, the gifting of books is underrated. Right now I'm reading The Good Soliders by David Finkel. It's an account of a battalion of Rangers during the Iraq War. It's one of the best books I've ever read. And I wouldn't have known about it if my good friend Tinz didn't order it on Amazon.

I've warmed up to the concept of e-reading. After K, her sister and brother-in-law all got Kindles for Christmas (I admit, I felt left out), I thought there must be something to them. I got a hold of one. It's great. The e-Ink is easy on my eyes. It's lightweight. I was sold.

I've decided to wait till later in the year (Birthday? Christmas? One of those days.) to jump into the e-book frenzy. However I will still read physical books, for all the things I've mentioned earlier. In my world paper and e-Ink will co-exist in literary harmony. And I will read in perfect bliss.