How to Live Life To the Fullest – A Penelope Pig Primer

Eat greedily all the delectable things life gives you.

Wallow in what’s soothing & cool.

Snort at those who are not loving.

Celebrate how delicious you are.

Pray you will not be eaten before your time.

Many, many, many years ago, at a business lunch, I defended the pig as being a very intelligent animal. I pointed out that pigs were one of the few animals that would drink alcohol willingly.  You have to remember I was young and so was my view of intelligence.

My colleagues found it humorous. In the ensuing year they inundated me by pigs of all sizes, shapes and incarnations:  Stuffed pigs, pig pens, pig posters, marizapan pigs, ceramic pigs, wooden pigs, pig calendars, pig stationery.  Drowning in all things pig, I vowed never again to defend a sow in public and hence forth I would make it a point to talk about expensive crystal or gemstones.

Decades later.

When my 70th birthday approached I was surprised how sad I felt about all that I had not accomplished in my time here on earth.  I was surprised at the sense of regret about missed opportunities.  I was surprised I was surprised.  After all, I was a psychotherapist and trained to be very aware of feelings – my own feelings were obviously an exception!

Then I received a birthday party invitation from a former colleague who’s the same age.  She was one of my pig-present friends.  I flashed back to that conversation decades ago and smiled at the innocence (bordering on occasion on stupidity) of my youth and the wisdom of the pig:

Let’s all pig-out on life!

Frankly Freddie – Eat, Pee and Play

My Human-being  always had very thoughtful clients (the others fired her when they figured out she doesn’t do well with people who aren’t nice).

Margo, who is very nice and extremely wise, hand-made this retirement present for my Human-being.

You’ll see why Margo is so wise when you read what she put on the back cover.

Front Cover 

Back Cover

I make my human-being read it everyday and take her own advice.  

You should read it too, particularly about how to handle stress.

Frankly yours,

Freddie Parker Westerfield, CDT RET

Canine Dog Therapist, Retired

Freddie Parker Westerfield, CDT RET