Themes & Relevance
Dick speaks to book groups, church groups, hospice organizations, and other community groups not only about Carol’s story, but also about what he calls “the story behind the story”—the “greater truths” embedded in the pages of Mister Owita’s Guide to Gardening.
He tells the love story of their 42-year marriage and his grief following Carol’s death.
He talks about Carol’s “dream interrupted,” explaining how she had reached lofty heights in the literary world, only to have breast cancer rob her of the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of her work.
He quotes Carol relating the lessons learned from Giles Owita, including, “what you do when that script you have written for your life does not work out. How do we graciously slip into Plan B?”
He talks about the incurable nature of catastrophic personal loss, explaining how Carol’s messages bring healing and provide a roadmap to living and loving after loss.
In this book, Carol talks about her cancer and her suffering. Both Carol and her friend Giles have faced death. When you finish this book, and turn the last page of this amazing story, you will not be surprised to know that Carol Wall, the person telling the story, dies several years after the story ends. But—despite that fact—this is not a book about cancer and it is not a book about death. Mister Owita’s Guide to Gardening is a book about living.