About Elizabeth Gonzalez, Author

I live in Lancaster, PA, with my husband, my pup Bear, and cats Sully and Theo. I have two daughters who are in college now, and I miss them every day. As compensation, I get at least one nest full of baby birds each spring. 

I don’t want to say there’s a war on in my house, but Bear suffers from an in-your-face exuberance that cats find particularly offensive. Sully has made it his mission to remind Bear daily that 80 pounds of lab is no match for 8 pounds of cat. 

I’m the worst kind of dog trainer because deep down, I applaud Bear’s enthusiasm, even when it pushes the limits of socially acceptable behavior. It just seems like such a precious and untenable thing, and I hate to see the world grind it out of him. It was hard to watch with my kids, too, the world at work, trimming and curbing them.

I recently found a report card among my parents’ things. It was from my favorite subject, English.

It’s hard to read, but Mrs. Keifer was concerned about my obsession with “unusual projects such as caring for all the burros.” 

This would have been back in Ohio, when my best friend Cassie and I devoured the entire Marguerite Henry oeuvre and launched a campaign to save the wild mustangs and burros. This was long before the internet, and I have no idea now how we learned  that they were being rounded up and slaughtered. It might have been back-of-book matter. I also don’t remember much about our campaign, but I imagine it consisted of some strident slogans and posters put up around our school. Possibly a letter to an official or even a petition.

I’m sure Mrs. Keifer was pretty cool. I always liked my English teachers. She was just trying to ensure I didn’t go off the deep end.

But I think you should, by all means, go off the deep end as long as you can, as often as you can. The world needs your wanton enthusiasm.

That’s a bit about me. I’m so curious to know why you stopped by. I hope you’ll take a moment to say hello and maybe tell me something about yourself.

My crew

Bear

enthusiast

“No task is too great. No stick is too big.”

Sully

Sensei

“Don’t make me come down there. Again.”

Theo

alien

“Is it sleeping, mama? Is it safe?”