Pound for Pound is the brave, inspiring story of one woman's recovery from a debilitating eating disorder, and the remarkable shelter dogs who unexpectedly loved her back to life. Today, author Shannon Kopp joins us to share a story about her first library conference experience and how dogs continue to affect her life.
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Silly Girl
The 2015 ALA Conference was a weekend of firsts for me. My first time in San Francisco. My first time holding my memoir in my own two hands. My first time turning around to see a butt naked man standing beside me on Castro Street. My first time watching a friend hop on a motorcycle with a guy she barely knew. My first time celebrating Pride in the city where it all began.
But of all the awesome moments I experienced that weekend, my favorite happened as I was walking to the convention center to do my (first-ever) book signing. I had already spilled coffee on my white shirt that morning, and as much as I told myself not to be nervous, anxiety flowed through my body.
I took a deep breath while waiting at a crosswalk, and then, there she was. A red pit bull. I’d seen all kinds of dogs in San Francisco, many of them wearing rainbow ribbons and t-shirts and tutu’s in celebration of Pride. This one wasn’t dressed up, but still, she was in a festive mood: tail wagging, body loose, eyes brimming with light. A little slobber dripped from her mouth and a blaze of white spanned across her chest. Seemingly for no reason, she circled around herself twice and got tangled in her leash. Her owners, a friendly looking couple in their forties, laughed and picked up her back legs to untangle her. “You silly girl,” the woman said, and I couldn’t help but smile.
I’d met so many silly girls over the years working in animal shelters. Most of them were pit bulls. During the toughest time of my life, when I was suffering from a debilitating eating disorder, the shelter dogs were often the only reason I got out of bed. Their distinct faces and eyes and stories. Their attentive eyes and steady tail wags telling me that I still mattered to someone. Their all around goofiness quieting the ever-serious voices in my head.
The crosswalk sign flashed “WALK” and the pit bull pranced ahead of me with her owners. I had only watched her for a few brief seconds, but suddenly, I realized that I was calmer. And still smiling.
Thank you to all the librarians for the important work that you do! I believe that books, like shelter dogs, can save lives. I hope that you enjoy my story, and thank you for making so many other stories available to us.
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Thanks, Shannon! Pound for Pound is available now, so make sure to check out this inspiring story of love, triumph, and dogs.
-Amanda
