To Sing Once More: Sorrow, Joy, and the Dog I Loved - Paperback

by Lambert Zuidervaart (Author)

How do we honor the dog friends who keep us company without complaint? How do we prepare when their all-too-short lives near an end? How do we grieve their passing and take joy in their memory? This memoir celebrates the life of a beautiful Golden Retriever named Hannah Estelle. It tells how, at a time of deep sadness, Hannah's puppy presence helped the author learn to sing again; how, as he became an accomplished vocalist, her faithful friendship brought grace and joy; and how, during the cancer-wracked months that ended her life, his singing to Hannah helped her departure. Woven around texts from poignant songs, the book speaks of loss and love, of sorrow and joy, of suffering and hope. Each chapter is a dog song, inspired by the canine companion it is about, and songlike in its own aspiration. Lambert Zuidervaart tells lyrical stories about a dear dog's life to thank her for helping him learn to sing once more.

Author Biography

Lambert Zuidervaart is an emeritus professor of philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies and the University of Toronto and a visiting scholar at Calvin University. He is the author of nine books in philosophy, including Artistic Truth, Social Philosophy after Adorno, and Religion, Truth, and Social Transformation. A resident of West Michigan, he sings in the Chamber Choir of Grand Rapids and two church choirs. His memoir Dog-Kissed Tears also appeared with Wipf and Stock.