WINSTON WEEKLY[1]

Vol. 2, No. 3

January 21, 2024

FRIENDSHIP

When I founded Bayles and Bruce in late 2023, I wanted it to be based in part on “Furry, feathered, and finned friendships.” Why? For the same reason I responded to a first grader who recently asked, “Why do all of your books have animals?” Because they are amazing friends. I have amazing human friends, but there is something about how animals forge bonds that no human can. From horses to giraffes, cats to dogs, and apes to zebras, animals often create lasting bonds.

The Horse Boy, directed by Michael Orion Scott and produced by Rupert Isaacson, is an incredible 2009 documentary about a bond with horses. The film is based on the autobiographical book, The Horse Boy: A Father’s Quest to Heal His Son. Rupert takes his autistic son from Texas to a shaman in Mongolia. Mongolia is the spiritual home of the horse. Temple Grandin said, “This is a story everyone needs to hear.” Temple is a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, an autism advocate, and a best-selling author. Learn more at https://www.templegrandin.com and www.horseboyfoundation.org.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Think about an animal that inspires you, a child, a niece, a student, or someone else. Maybe it is your own pet, a neighbor’s pet, or an animal at the zoo or in the wild. Write a short story or poem about how the animal creates a bond no human can.

NEXT MONTH’S SURPRISE

E-mail subscribers can enter to win “Bruce’s Basket.” To enter, send an e-mail to baylesandbruce@gmail.com by February 2 with your name and mailing address, along with the name and type of pet that inspires you. Please feel free to include your short story or poem from “This Week’s Activity.” If you are friends with me on Facebook, please include your feedback on whether “Friendship Saturday” should be a weekly Facebook feature.[2]

The winner will be drawn on February 3, and “Bruce’s Basket” will arrive by February 14.

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[1] Copyright January 21, 2024. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute. Winston Weekly is a weekly Sunday feature of Alysen Bayles, Founder of Bayles and Bruce. “Learn, live, love, read.” Alysen’s views are her own. Winston is the title of Alysen’s first children’s book published in 2020.

[2] I first posted about “Friendship Saturday” on January 20. Please feel free to send me a friend request. Facebook access is limited in an effort to reduce the number of false and/or toxic posts.