In Broken Together Rafael takes Kristine to Portugal, where he reveals a closely guarded secret. Kristine falls hopelessly in love with Portugal. Is it any wonder? Majestic castles and intricately carved churches are nestled like jewels among white-washed limestone buildings and red clay roofs that spill into the ocean from the hillsides of Lisbon. The cobblestone roads are more appropriately labeled a medieval maze than passable streets. Art is everywhere, within the Moorish, Romanesque, Baroque, Renaissance, and Neoclassical architecture; in the hand painted tiles and tile murals adorning most of the buildings; and in the black and white mosaic tiles that form elegant designs within the sidewalks beneath your feet. The decaying buildings in the impoverished areas are no exception. These post-apocalyptic looking buildings boast magnificent displays of urban art. Lisbon doesn’t simply depict art; this city IS art.

A thirty minute train ride will whisk you away from this artful city and promptly deposit you into Sintra, a seductive soiree of magical forests, castles, palaces, and palace gardens. You’re left wandering slack-jawed through a fairytale novel, where you’ll discover delicate arches carved as finely as any filigree necklace at Monserrate Palace. Those arches sit atop an endless array of elegant columns with floral capitals. The hallways, ceilings, balconies, and stairways are carved with such exquisite detail it will make your heart ache. At Regaleira Palace the mysterious underground tunnels between the grottos, caves, initiation wells, and chapel marked by the Knights Templar will tempt and tease your imagination. The gardens surrounding these palaces are filled with unfathomable beauty. Tendrils of fog wind around the majestic Pena Palace and through the lush forest that holds equally intriguing mysteries

Can’t get enough of the palaces? Go spend the night at Obidos Castle. Want to learn more about the Knights Templar? Visit the City of Tomar. Want to explore another fascinating city? Visit Porto. Prefer to kick back and relax for a while? Escape to Cascais or the Madeira Islands. There are so many fantastic experiences awaiting you in this country, experiences that are truly unique to Portugal. Rest assured, the people of Portugal will take very good care of you. They take service and hospitality to a whole new level. Most everyone speaks English, and the menus are printed in multiple languages.  If you look even remotely lost, someone will stop to ask if he can help you, and he won’t just offer directions. Oh, no. He will quite likely walk you where you need to go.

Portugal belongs on the short list of places you long to visit. Their hotels, transportation, and food (don’t even get me started on the decadent pastries, the bica, and the seafood) are surprisingly affordable; so I’d bump Portugal to the very top of that list. Consider yourself warned, though. You will lose your heart to this country, just like Kri and I did!

 

 

 

 

 

Photographs by Kari Kunkel-Anderson and K.S. Ruff.

All rights reserved.

If you’ve read The Broken Road, then you probably know how I feel about dogs. Kri’s beloved Shi Tzu, Cade, stood between Kri and her abuser for nine long years. He weighed in at only nine pounds, and yet he didn’t hesitate to protect her against a man who could have easily killed them both. Kri was battered, and Cade was battered right alongside her. They slept together on the bathroom floor more nights than Kri could count, because the bathroom was the only room in the house with a door that locked. When Kri ran away from her abuser, she took only one thing with her. Her beloved Cade.

I had a dog like that once. A dog that stood between me and an abuser. That dog, Toby, taught me everything I know about love. He licked me on the nose, just seconds before he died. One final act of love. He was trying to comfort me, even though he was in excruciating pain. Toby took a piece of my heart with him when he died at the ripe old age of sixteen. I couldn’t bear the thought of living without him, so I had him cremated and placed in a simple maple urn. He currently rests in my office, next to a picture of the two of us. I still miss him, terribly. In all honesty, I’ve left my husband strict instructions to bury Toby with me when I die. Here’s a few reasons why…

1. Toby taught me to forgive those who hurt me, every time he forgave me for screwing up.
2. He taught me to greet those I love at the door; to show my loved ones how happy I am to see them every single day.
3. He comforted me when I was sick; resting his head on my stomach, foot, or leg until I felt better.
4. He literally licked my wounds.
5. Toby cuddled with me, a lot.
6. When I was excited, Toby wagged his tail. He was excited for me.
7. When I cried, Toby cried with me, either whimpering or howling with all his might.
8. He protected me, fiercely.
9. He warned me when he thought I was in danger and then moved closer to stand by my side.
10. Toby never abandoned me.
11. He made sure I was never alone.
12. Toby overlooked my shortcomings.
13. He didn’t expect perfection; he simply celebrated the fact that I existed.
14. He believed in me.
15. He trusted me to care for him; and last but certainly not least…
16. Toby taught me to love with my whole heart.

You can learn a lot from a dog. Ask Luis Carlos Montalvan, a wounded warrior with a service dog named Tuesday. Or better yet, read his book Until Tuesday. His story is even more compelling than mine. Or ask the next person you see with a service dog: How did this dog change your life? Stories abound about heroic dogs. Here are just a few: Hero Dog of the Year Finalists from 2014. Dogs show their love and devotion in remarkable ways. Countless dogs refuse to leave their master’s graves, even years after their masters have passed away. There simply is no greater love than the love of a dog.

K.S. Ruff

I first realized the power of music when my daughter had a kidney transplant at the tender age of two and a half. Her transplant team sent a music therapist to her hospital room two days after the surgery, once the more intimidating tubes and lines had been removed from her little body. The young man played a guitar as he strolled into the room and sat beside her on the hospital bed. He made her forget about her pain and coaxed the first smile we’d seen in days. Then he piled a number of musical instruments onto her bed. They made music together; and for that one glorious hour, the rest of us gained a much needed reprieve from the fears and anxieties that had been eating away at us. We no longer saw the life threatening medical condition… only our precious little girl grinning ear to ear as she beat on that drum.

Music can magically transport us, much like books do. That’s why I weave music into my books. Whether it’s Kadyn singing “Dream a Little Dream of Me” while slow dancing with Kri, the mysterious young man singing “Make You Feel My Love” when he finds Kri crying on a park bench, Kri singing along with Pink in the shower, or the friends dancing to Shaggy’s “Angel” when they’re vacationing in the Bahamas… music moves us.

We lean on music, like an old friend, at parties, weddings, and funerals. Music makes our commutes a little easier, our exercise regimes more bearable, and our dinners more enjoyable. So next time you’re in pain, feeling discouraged, or overwhelmed… seek out that long lost friend. Whichever genre you prefer, find the music that will lift your spirits or soothe you. Apply a little music therapy of your own. Give it a good hour to work while you go about your day. I promise, you’ll feel better!