What happened to the end of 2023? Time just slipped away from me between my extremely busy “day job”, holiday festivities and taking time to get enough rest. Sometimes cat naps are in order, or a good read and a cuppa tea. I hope everyone had a joyful holiday season.

Speaking of good reads, since the release of Two Cats, a Mermaid and the Disappearing Moon, it occurred to me that some of you may not know the main characters, Topper and Lexington, and if you do remember them, it might be fun to reminisce. I’m sharing a story I wrote years ago (which I’ve updated a bit) that showcases their mischievous personalities. Enjoy!

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Upon returning home from a roadtrip back in 2015, while I was unloading the car Topper snuck in and settled on the floorboard of the driver’s seat.

“Come on, Topper,” I motioned for him to get out. He just looked at me with a deadpan stare and folded his front legs under his chest. He was either settling in or being defiant—which were probably one and the same. I let him hang out in the car.

Twenty minutes later I went to collect the cat from the Kia and found him cozied-up on the floorboard of the back seat.  It reminded me of the time I caught both cats red-pawed as they were scheming to take the car for a spin around the neighborhood, those stinkers.

When I used to walk Topper and Lexington around  the cul-de-sac of my neighborhood they insisted on stopping and sniffing a hubcap or the bumper of each car they encountered. It’s the roses that you are supposed to stop and smell I’d tell them.

Since when did cats have a thing for cars? It’s probably a good thing they couldn’t reach my car keys and the gas pedal as surely they would figure out the whole driving thing. I would have had to resort to public transportation while they would be off cruisin’ down Coast Highway. I could just see it: Topper behind the wheel, Lexington with his head out the sunroof, whiskers blowing back in the wind and Bobcat with his paws on the dashboard, eagerly peering out the windshield and repeatedly asking, “Are we there yet?!”

Bobcat sitting on the sunroof.

I wonder where “there” would be? Main Beach would be a good start. Lexington would scream from the back seat, “TOPPER—STOP THE CAR! LOOK! Who knew we live 4.5 miles away from the biggest litter box ever?”

Curious to see just how big this outdoor litter box is they would keep driving south, getting glimpses of the sand at each stop light.

“Wow, check out that whale! Maybe we should go there!” Topper would say as traffic would stop them in front of the Wyland Gallery.  Not being able to find parking, they would keep on cruising until finding themselves approaching a restaurant that would make their fur stand on end. “Geez, it’s bad enough they roam the canyon, but now they have a restaurant?” Topper would say while flooring it past the Coyote Grill.

My cats weren’t the only felines with a fetish for cars. Sometime after Topper and Lexington “helped” me unload my car that day, I attended a kiln glass art workshop facilitated by Laguna Beach artist Maggie Spencer. After the workshop, I sat outside of Maggie’s Laguna Canyon studio and sipped wine and chatted with Maggie and her friend Sian about the local music scene. Maggie’s cat with calico markings and an exceptionally fluffy tail strolled by and made herself comfortable on Sian’s leather purse. Conversation segued into talking about our cats. Maggie declared, “Whenever I open my car door, Punkin jumps in the car!” I imagined Punkin getting all comfy on the seat, ready for a joyride…maybe to that giant litter box down the street. I hope that Maggie kept an eye on her car keys.

Happy Mew Year, Ya’ll!

Thank you for your continued readership! I wish everyone a peaceful, joyful and rewarding 2024!