The past few weeks have been busy! Finally, my life doesn’t just consist of reading, daily naps, bird watching in the yard and playing toss the pom pom with Samantha.
My post-cancer healing journey is picking up pace here, and although I’m still pacing myself by occasionally napping and know when to say no, I’m also being productive doing things I love.
The Blue Bell Foundation for Cats is having its seventh annual Cat’s Meow Champagne Brunch Fundraiser on Sunday, September 26th. Over the past several years I’ve coordinated that event, but that duty was passed on to Blue Bell’s new assistant director this year.
I’m still a Cat’s Meow planning team member and have been having a blast working on promotional efforts and being the venue liaison.
I dusted off my children’s book manuscript and am working on final edits with my editor, Lynette Brasfield, which has been a thrill. I love it when the magic of words and ideas come together on paper and tell a story. After a gazillion versions, several critiques and frustrations over the last eleven years, the story, which includes protagonists Topper and Lexington (two of my kitty angels), is coming together. I don’t want to leave my story in the hands of chance as far as if it gets picked up by a publisher, so I’m going the self-publishing route. Besides sidestepping the luck of the slush pile draw, the learning and creative process of what goes into making a book is just the challenge I need to start my new life chapter.
I have not yet been able to enjoy evenings of live music at my favorite venue in town, The Cliff, as I’m pretty wiped out by dinnertime, but I did manage to get to my other happy place, the Sawdust Festival. My energy levels picked up just in time for two afternoon visits to the longstanding beloved summer art show in Laguna Beach during its last week for the season. I’m certain that being in the presence of artists and their works, live music, and the rustic ambience of Laguna Canyon, an alternate universe radiating joy and love, has aided in my healing.
Meanwhile, back at the cat cottage, Samantha has become more at peace with her new home and new cat mama, although quelling her overly sensitive nervous system that triggers cystitis, remains an ongoing challenge. Last weekend high anxiety kicked her nervous behavior into high gear, starting Friday with incessant meows while scratching every cupboard door in the cottage, nervously pacing from room to room until she leapt from a countertop onto the top of the fridge to a ceiling beam, to all surfaces on high.
I finally calmed her down with gabapentin; but when that wore off on Saturday, she became crazy cat again. I concluded that her behavior was triggered by the nightly outside goings-on of squeaking and scurrying rats. I sprayed a nontoxic repellent in suspected areas, and by Sunday she’d calmed down. Those rats must have scurried off to another nest.
For the moment, with Samantha peacefully sleeping on the small rattan console next to my desk as I write, all is right in our little world.
So many great images! Looking forward to that book and happy to see you getting out!
See you tomorrow, darling. I am so proud of your progress and all you have done inside and outside your beautiful home. Your new look is stunning and we all love it. Cannot wait for your new book!
It’s wonderful to hear that you are doing so well, Pam! And I’m also glad to hear that your book is coming together! I’m looking forward to reading it when you get it published.
Your blog is so enjoyable to read and appreciate you sharing your journey with us. You are one special lady and an awesome cat mom too! 🙂 Looking forward to meeting you today at the Blue Bell Cat’s Meow Fundraiser today! 🙂
Glad things are settling down for Samantha and picking up for you ! Purrs !
I love it! And cannot wait to read the book!
Busy, busy, busy! I can’t wait to read about the progress on your book – and then of course read it! How very exciting! Harley is sending calming thoughts to Miss Samantha.