Do it for the Animals…

But first, a word from our sponsor...

(Molly, saved by Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary)

The first time my wife and I went to London we watched a very bad juggler in Hyde Park, and people were supposed to leave some money for him. The man had a crudely written sign that said, “There Are No Free Shows.”

That became sort of a catch phrase for the two of us, and 50 years later we still use it. It fits in nearly any situation.

Beginning with a brand new story this coming Sunday, I’m putting my 5 a.m. Stories behind a paywall. A subscription will cost just $5 a month, which won’t even buy you a latte in most cafés.

The subscription includes a new story almost every week, plus full access to my Substack archives, plus the fun of leaving your own witty comments at the bottom of my stories. Kind of like being in a club, one that doesn’t involve pickleball.

It’s been 14 months since I launched this project, with Haunted, but Undaunted, and I’ve posted more than 70 stories so far.

I’ve been having the time of my life writing these and watching the milestones whiz by. Nearly 70,000 page views, and hundreds of subscribers around the world. But at a time when way too many writers are being asked to write for free, I’m not going to ask myself to do that any longer.

Think of me as the really bad juggler.

But here is the important part. The money won’t be used for fancy doodads for me. The earnings will go to help animals, domestic and in the wild, through organizations we support.

Among the groups that will benefit is Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary, which saved our own dear Molly from an unspeakable puppy mill. Grateful is the word to describe us, for sure.

(Me aboard a Chinese junk in Aberdeen Harbor, during my time in old Hong Kong)

The process should be easy. When you click on my story this Sunday you should be asked to upgrade your subscription, and you just authorize the $5 monthly expense on your card. Of course, you may quit at any time.

If some of you decide to jump off the train right here, I will understand and will miss you. Thank you for riding with us this far.

For those who decide to stick around, I’m not saying I’ve been holding back, but in the immortal words of Maurice Sendak, “Let the wild rumpus start…”