Dear Friends and Readers,
This month we had an actual chilly morning—not cold, but chilly. It gave me hope. And this has been a really, really hard month so far. So hope is a good thing.
I’ve had two really sick cats for a long time. Scooter was almost 20, and she’s battled bladder infections, constipation, no appetite, etc. for several months. Castor, who was one of the Gemini twins, was 16. His brother Pollux died several years back of cancer. Castor was a beautiful Siamese looking cat who was never completely healthy. In his later years he developed diabetes and IBD, along with other issues. Tuesday, 11/12, I had an at-home euthanasia company come and release them from little bodies that were failing. This is always a trauma. Even knowing I was making the choice for them that I would want someone to make for me—it doesn’t lessen the grief and loss. So many little graves—and big ones—on the farm. It all catches up with you eventually.
In two days, it will be Thanksgiving. My sister-in-law Janet Tessier always has a big spread and I’m always lucky she invites me to join them. The food will be delicious and it will be great to catch up with that side of my very lopsided family tree. My friend Ashley, who is like a granddaughter, will attend too. We have a bit of Puerto Rican influence going in the family now. Wonderful! We grow and expand or wither and die, and we are a clan that fights to survive!
When Eugene Walter was alive, we’d have the Waifs and Strays holiday dinner. So many of us writers and artists didn’t have a lot of immediate family so we’d share the holiday together. Now Eugene and many of my theater and artistic friends are gone. But my younger relatives have new talents and new interests, and it is always good to hear about them.
I’m hard at work on ODE TO THE BONES. And I’m reading over THE BOOK OF BELOVED. My friend Mahala Church, who is a fine editor, has gone over the manuscript for me so I can re-release it. It’s been out of print for a little while. I just couldn’t find the time to do what I needed to do with it. But now I’m firing on all pistons and I hope to get it up before the first of the year.
I’m also planning on raffling a full set of the Sarah Booth books. That’s 28 books. All are first edition hardcovers except for the first two books which were published as paperback originals. I have copies of THEM BONES and BURIED BONES but they are not first editions and are, obviously, paperback. Check the Sarah Booth fan page on Facebook for more information. I need to do this soon. I know I have one full copy of all the books! So I’m thinking about offering the raffle tickets for $10 and you could win the whole set. That seems more fair than an auction where it would cost a big wad of money all at once. And the proceeds will go to help pay the vet bills here at Good Fortune Farm Refuge. I may do a special newsletter after Thanksgiving to promote the raffle. I just need to get off my duff and make this happen.
So that’s the news from GFFR and from my writing desk. I’m a bit down. I miss Scooter and Castor, but I am glad they’re no longer in pain. I think it stinks that age and pain seem to go hand-in-glove.
My next regular newsletter will be Dec. 31, so I wish you all happy holidays, however and whatever you celebrate. Be kind. Adopt a shelter pet if you can do it. We all want to go home for Christmas, eve the animals. You have the power to make that happen for a shelter dog, cat, or other critter. And don’t forget to take some food, toys, etc., by the shelters and rescues for the poor animals who will spend the holidays there.
Here’s an oldie but a goodie for you to enjoy. My mama had a crush on old Dean. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Carolyn and the Critters
