Cancer survivor trains therapy dog in Geneva

This is a clear-cut case of "therapy on Third."

Cathy Meo found Graham's 318 Coffeehouse along Third Street in Geneva to be her happy place and part of a healing process when undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer two years ago.

Going through that process, Meo sensed the relief she felt at this coffee shop, and determined she could share a type of therapy with others undergoing chemo, disabilities or hospice through a "therapy dog."

When Mason, her golden retriever, was born in January, the process of training him for this type of work began.

"I started training him using all of the wonderful sights, sounds, smells and people on Third Street," said Meo, a resident of Aurora. "We are out walking up and down Third Street at least four days or nights a week. The response to his smile and charisma has been heartwarming."

Mason is laying the groundwork for being a therapy dog through his encounters along Third Street. He has befriended a homeless man, a disabled 10-year-old, a visually impaired couple, and countless other teenagers and adults.

"He is the unofficial mascot of Grahams 318 and he gets a cup of ice chips as a treat from the baristas when we finish our training," Meo said. "It is a great thing to see a little dog named Mason spread such happiness and joy to such a wonderful community," she added.

For now, Meo has Mason in a solid routine in Geneva that essentially operates like a "meet and greet" with anyone who wants to pet Mason. They usually start near Little Traveler, walk north along the west side of Third Street and make their way back to 318 Graham's for the cup of ice chips.

"It warms my heart to hear people say that Mason has given them a dose of 'therapy' already," Meo said. "With all of the rough news we are getting in this country and around the world, a little soft and furry dog named Mason can at least spread some joy."

A bike station:

After mentioning the bike tire repair station in Batavia at the footbridge between River Street and the Riverwalk area, a reader noted that similar help for bike riders is located in Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles. This air station includes some basic tools to use for simple repairs.

The reader finished the note by saying, "Check it out the next time you might be biking through the park."

Nice idea, but I am not a bike rider. I am a walker.

The fact that I use my feet more than bike tires probably has its roots in my childhood. First, my family moved three times within Chicago and the suburbs when I was very young, and I was in two different kindergarten and first-grade classes.

No, that isn't the reason I'm not the sharpest knife in the shed. But the result was not learning how to ride a bike until about third grade, and probably fifth grade or later as far as learning how to swim - and let's just say a swim team coach was never going to come knocking on my door.

Then, I broke a school rule in about sixth grade when riding my bike. When arriving at school, I didn't get off the bike and walk it up the long driveway to the bike racks. I pedaled my way there. As nuns did so well in those days, they went ballistic and said I couldn't ride my bike to school any more. So I walked.

And I've pretty much been walking ever since.

Books and pie:

If God came to me in a vision and said, "Be good, and heaven will be books and pie for you," I would be sure to stay on a righteous path.

But the Geneva Public Library is giving a preview of such a place when it hosts Paula Haney, owner of Hoosier Mama Pie Company, for a presentation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 22.

Haney, author of Hoosier Mama Book of Pie, will share tips and demonstrate how to make a pie crust.

Here's the best part. The library and Hoosier Mama will serve pie to those attending the session.

More kite flying:

At the risk of mentioning every kite flying event in the area, mainly because I loved this activity as a kid, this has to be passed along.

Chicago Kite will conduct demonstrations and hand out free kite kits to the first 500 kids attending the Kite Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 20 at Peck Farm fields in Geneva.

We know what has to happen to make this festival work. The wind has to cooperate. More often than not, such a prerequisite is not a problem around here, especially in the wide, open spaces at Peck Farm.

dheun@sbcglobal.net