Goodbye, My friend.

Sunday, I realized I was going to have to say goodbye to Pumpkin, my beloved cat. He'd developed seizures in January, and though he was only three, more and more complications plagued him. And by Sunday, I knew he'd fought hard enough. It was time for him to chase butterflies and make new friends on the other side. And I knew, although, he could be spunky, his uniqueness would win the hearts of the angels.

And he was unique. I don't think he knew he was a cat, and I was a person. I'd be on the phone or talking to myself, and Pumpkin would answer me with his extensive vocab of three words:  Meow, me and mom. Me and Mom were variations of meow. So, our conversations were somewhat limited, but I don't think that mattered to him. He enjoyed our connection.

And apparently, he thought the TV was there for the sole purpose of entertainment and his education.  Sometimes he'd answer the actors.  Since TV comforted him, he spent his final day sitting on my lap, and together with Xena, we watched Hallmark Christmas Movies.

I don't live on my property. We'd had a fire a few years back, and just when I was ready to rebuild, Covid struck. So hopefully, fingers crossed, next year will be better. Anyhow, I took Pumpkin to my property to bury him, and there on a rosebush I planted for another treasured pet, a single red perfect rose remained as if Dutch welcomed Pumpkin home.

But with every end there is a beginning. Today, I went into Pet Smart to buy cat food for Xena, and all the cats waiting for adoption came to the front of their display windows. It was almost as if they knew I had a vacancy to fill.

While I miss Pumpkin terribly, I realized all the love I showered on Pumpkin remained in my heart, but it now had no place to go. Love feels terrific when we share it, but love with no place to go hurts.

And sharing love is what this season is all about.

Now, I have to say, when I arrived back here at the house, I spotted little black and white cat feet jumping over the stonework. Those feet don't match any of the animals who officially call this farm home, so maybe there's a vacancy sign only cats can see. I looked around, but the feet disappeared.  I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, may love flow in and around you this season.

Lucia

The Sheriff believes in karma. Sera believe in jail cells and justice.

Sera Grass dreams of meeting a man who adores her and raising their children and grandchildren in a place free of hate. Unfortunately, The Allegro Islands are not such a place, and the local sheriff intends to write her brother’s death off as another product of The Feud. Heck no. Not on Sera’s watch.

Ruby is Sera's boss and the powerful matriarch of the Bone-Horn family.  Sheriff Bastille’s lack of motivation burns her diaper-wearing senior butt. If he won't act, she and Sera will. Together, they intend to find the truth, and they’ll stop at nothing to bring the killer to justice unless the killer gets them first.

Visit The Allegro Islands, where it’s always a holiday, ghosts entertain the tourists, trees glow, and a bumbling witch practices her spells.

Ghosts of The Allegro Islands is the prequel to the humorous and heartwarming Paranormal Cozy Ghosts of The Allegro Islands Series. Curl up and download the book tonight.

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