My next post was to be a continuation of my Introduction to “Pioneering Women of Civil War America.” However, as you’ve all experienced, best-laid plans go awry and, due to an unforeseen circumstance, I’ve traded that post with this:

Soldiers of the American Civil War had mascots—ranging from dogs, cats, birds, mice, and…yes, even toads—as a comfort to remind them of home, make them forget the horrors of battle and its aftermath, bolster their courage during a fight, and nurture them through their wounds. (If you’re eager for more on this subject, here’s a wonderfully brief article from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to get you started: https://hsp.org/blogs/hidden-histories/civil-war-mascots).

As most of you will recall from my posts/blogs over the years, I had my cuddly keeshonds Fuji Yama-San (top) and Kili Man-Jaro (bottom) to inspire me through their love and loyalty and spur on my writing through their boundlessly tail-wagging cheer and, a few times, their courage to battle and overcome threats to their health and survival. I bless them both for lounging at my feet in their understanding of those days when I was too engrossed in my research and writing of Train to Glory and Gold, Guts and Glory (Books 2 & 3 of Glory: A Civil War Series) to take them boating, fishing, or hiking—their favorite activities.

Now, my heart is torn into shreds and feels as if it will need infinite stitches to sew up the seams after the tragically senseless loss of my Fuji, this past Monday, March 15, 2021. Although he would have been twelve years old on May 29, 2021, and at the upper range of his lifespan of twelve to fourteen years, he was relatively healthy and very happy. He might’ve hobbled and limped when he walked, but he marched on with fortitude, just as his furry or feathered predecessors in the Civil War did after they’d been wounded, healed, and returned to battle.

One amusing anecdote about Fuji: He’d greet each day with happy snorts as he rubbed himself against the coverlets all around my bed to let me know he was up and ready to go potty. After he relieved himself, he’d shake his rump like a duck and then prance around the yard with more happy snorts until he was ready to head back inside for breakfast. He and his sheer excitement over something so simple in life was the “best part of waking up” and exceedingly trumped the delight of my waking up to “Folgers in my cup!”

Anyway, you might’ve taken note that I’ve been running my character-naming contest on Facebook (either @LisaPotocar or @LisaPotocarAuthor) through my grief. It’s all because of you—my dear family, friends, fans, and followers—who are spurring me on with your participation in my contest and bringing me smiles and laughter via your character names and correlational comments. I can’t thank you enough and, to reward you for your support, I’m extending the naming of characters through this Sunday, March 21, 2021.

Although Fuji is not physically present, I will forever hear his happy snorts, feel his warm, fuzzy snuggles, and picture his playfulness. For all of you animal lovers, this brief but heartwarming video about the love, loyalty, and courage of “Sallie,” a dog adopted by the 11^th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War will bring tears to your eyes, especially when you learn how her regiment memorialized her post-war. To watch, go to: https://civilwarwomen.co/2021/03/19/mascots-of-the-american-civil-war/.

Thank you all for allowing me this time to share my sorrows to help in my healing! Please, feel free to share your own heartwarming anecdotes of your pets’ courage, love, and loyalty and to shed your own tears all over this page—as I can’t help do now for my Fuji, even though he’d want me to stay strong for his twin brother, Kili!