Mr. Wilson Makes It Home: How One Little Dog Brought Us Hope, Happiness & Closure
By: Michael Morse / Narrated By: Kevin Young
Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
Liked it, but every now and then Morse shocked the bejesus outta me
Okay so, like, what’s not to love? Michael and Cheryl Morse are empty-nesters, and Michael is suffering from PTSD after working with the Fire Department for over 20 years (I think he managed 23? before he simply couldn’t do it anymore), and Cheryl is dealing with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. They’ve been dogless for some time, and both are traumatized in addition to just feeling aimless.
Cheryl spots Mr. Wilson’s profile on the web, and soon the little schnoodle is part of a pet-saving caravan coming in from the South (And I dearly loved how Morse wrote of the caravan, giving nods and kudos to the dedicated trucker and rescue personnel who helped get, not only Mr. Wilson, but many, many other dogs, up North).
They’re wary: Will they be able to care for the dog? Will they even like the dog, and will the dog like them?
Not to worry! Even though Mr. Wilson comes from a place where he was forgotten, neglected, and finally abused, he’s one sweet ol’ bundle o’ love. He brings joy wherever he goes, even to a man dying of cancer whose days are anything but bright.
So it’s kind of blah blah loving blah blah blah. Mr. Wilson Makes It Home wooould be a totally generic little dog gets a home story were it not for Michael and Cheryl’s bios. Michael has seen a LOT during his work time, and his case of PTSD is pretty severe given all he’s seen and done, all the failed rescues, all the man’s-inhumanity-to-man episodes, the fear, the exhaustion, the complete and utter hopelessness he felt after so many years on the job. Indeed, there are no holds barred when it comes to Michael telling us exactly what cases scarred him for life, and they make for some pretty horrific listening. That’s what makes Mr. Wilson’s arrival absolutely necessary because Michael is quite simply, not coping well at all. And Cheryl’s MS? Well, it’s getting worse. And that’s what makes her inability to join Michael and Mr. Wilson on long walks so heartbreaking: At one point in her life, she could’ve run circles around the two of them, but now she’s stuck to electrical stimulation therapy at home, drinking kale smoothies, and watching longingly as her husband and little dog go out into the big world.
Okay, so the reason I say that Morse shocked the beJESus outta me, is that every now and then, even tho’ he’s obviously a lover of animals, he writes in such a way where he makes excuses and explanations for himself and his choices. Loving animals? Well, it works out, but DEFinitely it’s all because humans are more important (Ya see, it makes the humans happy to have animals, and happy humans are a good thing for the planet). Keeping a wolf-hybrid as a pet? Well, they’d taken him to a sanctuary, but decided to pen him up at home. And get another dog to keep him company (Cuz see, it’s all about making the humans happy).
And when Cheryl’s MS starts getting to her? Well, she obviously can’t take care of the house, do the chores, AND take care of two rambunctious dogs, so just… put ‘em to sleep. On the same day. It’s a tough choice, but the humans have no other option.
I mean, whatthehell?!?
C’mon! Y’all are grown HUMAN beings, ostensibly with brains in your heads that are quite capable of thinking of options. And, dude: You are so over having to be at work, ya couldn’t scale back (As your ailing wife has been BEGGING you to do for YEARS) to spend some time at home? Maybe it’s okay that the house isn’t spotless? Maybe it’s okay she’s not responsible for your entire well-being at home? I dunno—it startled the heck outta me how casual and oh-well(ish) he was about choosing to end life. But I s’pose he saw life ending in much more gruesome and much more pointless ways at work.
Still…
But ANYway. Kevin Young’s narration is warm and avuncular, but it also lends itself well to descriptions of trauma and chaos. There’s also a brightness to his voice which makes Mr. Wilson’s antics endearing and cheerful. He adds just the right note of awe each time Michael makes a huge realization about Life because of the little dog, and he adds just the right note of a take-no-BS delivery when he makes the transition to school bus driver for kids with disabilities (And maybe a few attitude problems).
All in all, it was a nice little book. I appreciated the love.
I just coulda done without the protestations of innocence/helplessness.
Note to Morse: Do NOT tell everybody about what happened to the last dogs in your care. It’s sunnier that way. Just saying.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.