This Cat Lady has been very busy the past month with an abundance of new work. My consulting business is finally booming for which I’m so very grateful!

I’m especially thankful for my much-needed assistant, Bobcat—that is when he’s not cat napping.

To  get my home office efficiently operating, I’ve been making more office supply runs than usual. A recent stop at Staples to purchase reams of paper caused my fur to stand on-end when I heard, “…a beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight, walkin’ in a winter wonderland,” as I entered the store. “Seriously?” I said out loud to know one, but couldn’t help myself because the music seemed so out of place on that 75-degree mid-November afternoon. Heck, I was still trying to figure out my Thanksgiving Day plans. And so the premature Christmas music continued…in Trader Joe’s and in CVS Pharmacy.

I’m afraid Thanksgiving is being overshadowed and forgotten in the retail world’s effort to make Christmas all about spending. Black Friday used to be true to its name and now Black Friday starts on Thanksgiving Day for many stores. What is happening to our value system when shopping for a deal is more valuable than honoring family, friends and gratitude on one day set aside for just that?

A few days ago I went to Coast Pet Supply, the local pet store in town to purchase my cats’ current favorite kibble, Premium Fussie Cat-Cat Food. I love the coziness of this store, the personal attention that the owners and staff provide, and the high-quality cat food they sell—products you cannot find in big chain stores.

Jessica and Keith owners of Coast Pet Supply & Grooming

Jessica, the owner greeted me with a big smile and an enthusiastic, “Heeey!” I told her how happy the kitties (and I) were with the new brand of litter, Cat’s Incredible that I’d recently bought and thanked her for the recommendation.  I browsed the isles, picked up the kibble and walked up to the checkout counter.

Keith and Francisco

While Francisco processed my purchase, I was involuntarily tapping my foot to the beat of—was it actually—a song without jingle bells; a song with slide guitar and a blues backbeat? I smiled as I hummed along to a Jimi Hendrix tune while leaving the store.  Ahhh…relief from too-soon-to-hear holiday music.  I was very thankful.

A big Thank You and hug to all of my readers!

Mittens & Tigger, residents of The Blue Bell Foundation for Cats

I’m so grateful for your support!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!