 When Moritz and I were invited to sign books at Elliott
Bay bookstore in Seattle, I decided drop a note to Coral
and David Denis on Vancouver Island. I told them we
would like to visit Vancouver while we were on the west
coast. I did not know Coral - she had simply emailed me
earlier, ordering a copy of Nose to Nose. Her message
had been so gentle and interesting that I felt a
connection with her. On a hunch, I thought she could
suggest a bookstore in Vancouver that I could contact
for a book signing.
A few days later I received an invitation, from Jill
Weir that Moritz and I were welcome to stay with her and
her husband Bill while we were in Vancouver. Coral must
have asked her if she could look after us. Jill said she
would contact a local bookstore about a book signing. Lo
and behold, a few days later we were invited to 32 Books
in North Vancouver to give a talk and sign books. Mary
Trentadue, the owner, volunteered to help us with a TV
appearance on the Fanny Kiefer/Studio 4 morning
broadcast.
Imagine my surprise at all of this sudden and unforeseen
help - Moritz and I are invited to stay in Vancouver,
BC, a favorite city of mine, with people we never met.
This was my first clue about Berners' little-known
"brotherhood," or should I say, "Bernerhood."
Unbeknownst to me (Moritz may have known), we had been
welcomed into the Bernerhood... a network of seemingly
ordinary folks with a passion for life, a keen sense of
humor and a contagious love for their Bernese Mountain
Dogs.
Within days we received further help - an invitation
from Pam Thind at Pets 1st, a specialty dog food maker,
to come to their store for an open house and another
book signing. Later, she offered to become our Canadian
distributor of Nose to Nose. Then I asked an old friend
at the
Vancouver Library, Janice Douglas, if I could
talk at her library about Nose to Nose and our pet
therapy experiences. On quite short notice, Janice
arranged an evening talk, complete with a beautiful
poster. Imagine, in no time, we had a full week of
meetings and greetings in Vancouver. Imagine!
 A few days later, Jill emailed wanting to know what I
liked to eat, what Moritz might need, when did I awake,
did I like to hike? I felt totally embraced. I replied
that I am a vegetarian. This hardly slowed her down.
Immediately another email, wanting to know: how
vegetarian? fish? eggs? cheese? And then the clincher -
she said she made fresh muesli every week. Muesli is one
of my very favorite foods. I told her not to worry about
any of my other needs Ð homemade muesli would be such a
treat, she need not do anymore. Jill does not take to
relaxing easily. She is quite thorough. Which did I
prefer, tea or coffee? I love tea - so does Jill.
Imagine!
At this point, I pinched myself and looked to the
heavens in gratitude.... and then to Moritz, wondering
who really was in that big, beautiful fur coat and where
was he leading me?
Our first stop in Canada was an overnight stay with
Adrienne and Fred Hammond, Adrienne had heard we were
coming to BC in the early evening and suggested we stay
there as they lived just across the border. She drove to
meet us and to follow her to be sure we found our way to
their home. Meeting the gregarious Hammonds, including
their dogs Louie and Bailey, and being treated so
graciously, I got a feeling that this whole trip was to
be quite an experience. We talked late into the evening.
In the morning, they gave us directions to our next
Berner stop: the Weirs.
 We arrived mid-morning at the Weir's on a beautiful,
sunny day. Moritz sat at my side as we rang the
doorbell. Jill opened the door, with Flora, her Berner,
at her side and said, "Hello, Moritz and Barry!" Really,
those few words say it all - Jill is friendly,
energetic, welcoming and really appreciates Berners.
Bill, Jill's husband, while more reserved, had a calm
way with Moritz and soon I could see the two of them
sharing a mutual kindness and playfulness.
Over the next few days, they prepared our meals, took us
on interesting and scenic hikes in Lighthouse Park and
along the mountains, introduced us to Flora's agility
class, drove us to our book signings, and generally
directed us about Vancouver; in short, they treated us
as family. We talked, drank tea, laughed, played with
the dogs, discussed artists and photographers,
architecture and history. Having now lived some number
of years in rural Montana, I finally felt, once again,
to be part of a cultural community.
On our visit to
Pets1st, we were greeted throughout the
day by 30 or more Berners, more than I have ever seen.
It was like a children's party: everyone eating,
laughing, talking, running here and there with a feeling
of understanding and togetherness in the air. I thought
at one point that Moritz had fallen in love. A
particularly large and beautiful female Berner was about
to be let out of the back of a pickup when she spotted
Moritz. She leapt from the truck, breaking her collar as
the two of them began their dance. I thought, "Wow,
Moritz, you really picked a beautiful girlfriend, such
good markings and so energetic and such presence." I
said to her owner, "She is a beauty! No wonder Moritz is
so attracted to her." Nonchalantly she replied, "Well,
it may also be because she is in heat."
I have a lot to learn.
The book signings went well. A sense of kinship with all
arose quite naturally. Moritz once again proved to be an
ambassador to the heart. Being welcomed to the
Bernerhood with such kindness, generosity and aliveness
was completely unexpected. However, I have a sense our
Bernerhood has a history of welcoming, helping, sharing,
and gracing humanity.
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