Manny Kagan

  

Are You Ready for a Change?

Friday, September 14^th, the day you are probably reading this story, falls on the 5^th of the month of Tishrei in the Jewish calendar.  The significance of this date is that it is in between when Jews celebrated the holiday Rosh Hashanah, which fell on Monday, September 10^th this year, and Yom Kippur, September 19th.  Rosh Hashanah, translates to “head of the year”, and according to the Jewish (lunar) calendar, is the beginning of the year 5779. The custom of the celebration of Rosh Hashanah as prescribed in the Torah, has been practiced since about 1312 BC.  There is another interesting meaning of the word – “shanah” in Hebrew it can be “shinui” – “change” – or “leshanot” – to change.  This becomes significant because the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, are the Ten Days of Repentance or Days of Awe. Religious Jews believe that during those days the King-God judges his people, opens His (or Her) book, examines their deeds and decides who will live, who will die, who will have a good life, and who will have one filled with troubles.  While it is believed that God makes His decrees on Rosh Hashanah, that decree is sealed in the Book of Life on Yom Kippur.  Thus, over these ten days, everyone has an opportunity to repent and change their behavior – to leshanot.

The question I ask myself, – can I really change my behavior?  A lot of people make New Year’s resolutions, sincerely believing that the that the next year is going to be different, only to discover that it can be challenging, since all of us are creatures of habits.  How can we change them?  We can learn from Ben Franklin, who in 1726, at the age of 20, created a system to develop his character.  In his autobiography he lists his thirteen virtues, which he practiced one for each year until perfection. You might already know that he was a remarkable human being and accomplished many things during his lifetime (perhaps because he figured out how to change).

Sometimes we need outside stimulus to help us change.  For our family this happened on September 4^th, 2016- the day when we adopted our best friend, our labradoodle puppy Max.  As a result, there were many changes and adjustments in our lives;- one of them was writing and publishing my new photo-story book “42 Encounters with Dog Lovers”. This book might inspire you to change your life, as well!

One of the purposes of Yom Kippur is the opportunity to repent, and ask for forgiveness; first from people, and then from God.  Therefore, I want to use the opportunity to ask for your forgiveness for anything I did (or did not do) to you.  Your forgiveness might help to make a favorable impression on God’s decision about me on Yom Kippur and help me to change.

P.S. After a year of living with Max, I noticed that his behavior has changed, after repeated exercises. There are many books on how to help dogs change, but to get results, humans need to change first.  These four images show Max while he was changing. To see more Max’s images, check out the Max and Manny page on facebook.

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The Book Is Here!

The wait is over for me, as well as for you, to be able to hold your own copy of 42 Encounters with Dog Lovers in your hands.  It was almost a year ago on September 4, 2017 when I started working on the book about Max, recording the first 42 days of our life with our new puppy.  Though we had four dogs before him, it was the first time I decided to learn what it takes to become our dog’s best friend.  To do that, I read many “how-to“ books, and I shared a lesson a day in my book.

There was an original set of photos leftover from my first book, 42 Encounters in San Francisco, that I’ve taken in many parts of the world over the past eleven years.  As I continued to photograph new, “better” images, they replaced other sometimes equally interesting encounters.

Forty-two days after I finished writing the book, the production process began.  The text had to be edited and shortened first by me, then by my daughter Tamar, followed by the professional editor, Amy Bauman.  The next step was to assemble the book, which was done by the talented graphic artist, Darren Young.  But there was still a question – which image should be on the cover?  Though the photos were about dog lovers and their dogs, our puppy Max was the real hero.  But which of his many images to choose?  There was also thequestion of where to print the book?  After getting the first run and receiving the first prints from one company, I went back to the printing company I used to print my first 42 Encounters in San Francisco book, and who did a great job – Moquin Press.  Meanwhile, as I immersed myself into the world of dogs and their owners, I decided to use my book as an opportunity to help owners become their dogs’ best friends. As a first step, I started a Facebook page, Max and Manny where every Monday I share a short description of my experience with Max and post his images.  After the first time I visited the Muttville Senior Dog Rescue (which I wrote about before), I decided to donate 10% from the book sales to various dog shelters.  I have no idea what is going to be the next development, but I intend to promote the book to 75.4 million millennials.  According to Marketing Daily, thirty-five percent of dogs are owned by Millennials.  I am sure that at least some of them want to have my book.  And since there are also 74.1 million Baby Boomers and some of them (like myself) also own a dog, who knows how many dog lovers will be able to buy the book and to contribute to dog shelters?  I am sure you are getting the picture.  To make a long story short, regardless which group you belong to, when you buy 42 Encounters with Dog Lovers, many dogs in dog shelters are going to benefit.  And as far as you are concerned, I guarantee you will love the book and hope you will buy many copies as presents to your friends and family, and share your reviews on Amazon.com.

P.S. In the first image you see is of Max and I receiving the first box with books, the other three are among forty-two in the book.  You can purchase the book at Encounterspublishing.com or  Amazon.com.

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It’s All In The Numbers

On August 8^th, 2018 my wife Elfa and I celebrated our 51^st wedding anniversary.  During this long life journey together we had to overcome many challenges.  After two emigrations, growing a family and surviving and prospering in the volatile mortgage business as owners of Pacific Bay Financial for 33 years, there are many reasons we have to celebrate.  Was this luck or hard work?  Perhaps it was all of the above.  I was curious to find out what numbers have to do with that. I did some research online about a branch of knowledge that deals with the occult significance of numbers, called numerology.  I’ve heard that the Chinese consider number 8 a lucky number, but why?  Turns out that thepronunciation of “Ba” in Chinese, eight sounds similar to the word “Fa”, which means, “to make a fortune”.  Since in our life there are two eights – our anniversary falls on the 8^th day of the 8^thmonth, we have double fortune – our two amazing daughters.  And when we put those numbers together, we have the number 88.  The energy represented by numerology number 88, is foremost, an analytical approach to efficient business for accomplishing substantial goals.  And this year, we have the number 18 (8/8/2018).  The essence of the number 18 has to do with humanitarianism, independence and building something of lasting benefit.  In addition to this, in Judaism, according to the system of Gematria, which is the kabbalistic method of interpreting Hebrew scripture, the letters of number 18 add up to the word “Chai”, which means life and is considered a spiritual number.  When we add 8+8+1+8, we get 25, which in numerology represents relationships, personal freedom and companionship.  At the same time, by adding the whole year 8+8+2+0+1+8 we arrive at 27, which means that this person has the highest wisdom without having to search for love from others.

At this moment you might be feeling that you have had enough of this trivia.  Nevertheless, let’s put together what we have so far – Fortune, Analytical approach to effective business, Independence, and Building something of lasting benefit.  In addition, there is also Life, and a person with the highest wisdom.  I decided to look further.  The numerology explanation of number 51 (the number of years we have been married) is a number of family and also of both responsibility and expression of personal freedom, and is responsible for many pleasant and stimulating adventures, as you can see, it is getting more interesting.  By adding 5+1, we get 6.  The most important influence of the 6 is its loving and caring nature. According to Chinese interpretation, it is a lucky number, which means “flow”.

Well, I think you are getting the picture.  Of course all of those numbers can just be a coincidence, or maybe not.  Regardless of whether these numbers have any significance, the second part of a relationship has to be there – work.

It was Thomas Jefferson who said, “I am a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”

We decided to celebrate our anniversary, playing tourists in the best city in the world. We spent our time browsing shop windows and visiting photography galleries and then had lunch at Café de la Presse, which is across the street from the entrance into Chinatown, where we watched the constant flow of tourists. After a stroll, we had ice tea at a coffee shop in Union Square and ended the day with dinner at one of our favorite restaurants – Firefly. San Francisco has 2612 streets. When I added all the numbers – 2+6+1+2, I got 11.  According to Numerology, “The number 11 is a Master Number which means that it resonates at extremely high vibration. Master Number 11 is associated with spiritual illumination and our inner teacher.”

P.S. The number 42 in the title of my series “42 Encounters” books, originally came to me after reading “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams.  It has many meanings, which you can read about online.  The four images of people with their dogs that I encountered in Downtown San Francisco could be included in my new book “42 Encounters with Dog Lovers”, which is available on Encounterspublishing.com or Amazon.com

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What Is A Doodle?

The proper question for my story should be not what, but who.  However when I googled “doodle”, what I found was that on August 2^nd, “Mount Olympus was celebrated with a Google Doodle.”  Apparently, Google doodles all the time.  In addition, there is a website for setting appointments called Doodle. But there are also dogs who are also called doodles.  Our Labradoodle dog Max belongs to this mix between pure breed dogs.  In his case, it is the crossing between a Labrador Retriever and the standard Moyen or Miniature Poodle.  The term first appeared in 1955, but became popular in 1988, when the mix began to be used as an allergy friendly or hypoallergenic guide dog.  Since its start in Australia, the trend has spread all over the world.

You can see some of their images on netfind.com/search.  There are Goldendoodles, Bernedoodles, Sheepdoodles, Aussiedoodles, Schnoodles, Whoodles and many others.  In San Francisco, there is a way to see those wonderful dogs.  Once a month there is an SF Doodle meetup.  It was founded on May 12, 2015 by Janeen Anderson and three others. Four years later there are 605 members, some of whom gather at Crissy Field or other locations, where dogs can run without a leash and play with each other, and owners mingle and develop friendships.  After I met Janeen, she introduced me to Gideon Marks, who together with his two children started a website DogLog.com which helps to track our best friends’ activities.  I also learned about puppymama.com.  This site was started by Theresa Piasta.  Judging by the name, it is focusing on female dog owners.  There I found some very interesting stories, which inspired me to consider the title of one of my future “42 Encounters” books – “42 Encounters with Puppies’ Mamies” to be followed by “42 Encounters with Puppies’ Papies”.

I am amazed by how many wonderful and unexpected encounters I am discovering thanks to our four-legged friend Max.  Of course you will read about them and I also hope that you will join us on our Facebook page, Max & Manny,and share the good word with your friends.

P.S. Meanwhile enjoy these four images from the SF Doodle meetup.  I especially like the one where everyone focuses on Max.  And of course, plesase buy “42 Encounters with Dog Lovers” for yourself and your friends.  You can order it on encounterspublishing or amazon.com.  When you order 5, you will also get a surprise gift.  10% from the sale will go to your favorite dog shelter.

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How to Give a 2nd Chance

I received a call from my friend Iona, whom I was able to help with a reverse mortgage recently.  She knew that I had just finished working on my photo-story book about dogs, and thoughtfully invited me to check out Muttville, an organization whose motto is to give senior dogs a “2^nd chance”.  They are located at the corner of 16^th Street and Alabama Street, next to the SPCA.

I’ve visited dog shelters before; one of them, the San Francisco SPCA, has an incredible facility.  But most of the dogs there are young, and more easily adoptable.  The dogs stay in small rooms and visitors can observe them through a glass door.  When I visited Muttville, I had no idea what to expect.  The building, which was used as a bank in the 1930’s, has many rooms with high ceilings. (The former vault is used for storage.)  Dogs are attended to by 16 staff members and about 300 volunteers, and wander freely through the room.  Throughout the space, there are dogs beds with blankets on the floor. Every week, they rescue about twenty-five new senior dogs, and about the same number are adopted by happy families. Most of them arrive here from other dog shelters from all over California.  Some are shipped here from Mexico, Taiwan and even Iran.  Sherri Franklin founded Muttville in 2007.  After volunteering in the SPCA for many years, she realized that senior dogs, those who are 7 years and older, were considered “unadoptable” and were routinely euthanized. She decided to save some by adopting them and kept the seniors in her home (now she still has ten in her charge). Her desire to save more dogs led her to start the organization, which over ten years, has saved over 5000 senior dogs.  In 2016, Sherri Franklin and Muttville were one of ten “CNN Hero of The Year Finalists”. The day before I visited Muttville, a friend (who is a senior) told me that he had adopted an older dog.  I inquired from which shelter and was not surprised that it was Muttville.  He also told me that his friend had adopted five dogs from Muttville, as well.

One of the programs offered at the shelter is matching human seniors with their four-legged senior companions without having to pay an adoption fee.  In the lower level of the building, there is a large room with comfortable chairs, where human seniors, who cannot have dogs where they live, come and spend time and play with the adorable, loving creatures.

All of the dogs go through a thorough examination by a vet and are prescribed any necessary medications and special diets to help expedite their recovery.

I love dogs, and many times I have been in the parks where different dogs congregate together and mix with people, but being at Muttville was an emotional experience for me and filled my eyes with tears.  I have no idea what caused this, but I decided to do what I can to help.  10% of the profits from the sale of my book “42 Encounters with Dog Lovers” will go to Muttville or any other dog loving organizations of the readers’ choice.  Please help our beautiful senior dogs.  When you buy the book at encounterspublishing.com or amazon.com, I will make a contribution on your behalf to the dog charity of your choice.

P.S. I’ve chosen four images to show the dogs’ lives during my visit to the Muttville facility.  You can visit the facility on weekends.  It is located at 255 Alabama Street, in San Francisco.  On Saturday (tomorrow), August18th you will find me there with my books.  And if you are too busy, check them out online.  When I was leaving, Ms. Franklin gave me a package with the information about Muttville.  There was a note – “Without You there are no 2^nd Chances”.

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Cheers,