Why There’s No Cat In Christmas

I’m sorry, but cats and Christmas just don’t mix. I know this from personal experience.

Ever have a kitten climb your Christmas tree? At night? I spent an hour the next morning looking for him before he decided to meow. Found him perched at the back of the tree up near the top, naturally.

Or have a cat swipe a glass ornament and use it for his personal toy before hiding it under the couch across the room. (I found it in March.)

And God forbid I put bows on any of the packages. I thought this one bow with pretty curling ribbons kept falling off until I caught my current cat, Vinnie, red-handed, err, pawed, with his claws snagged in the ribbon. He looked up at me as if to say, "Oh, this one wasn't for me?"

And it’s not only indoor cats you have to worry about. My outdoor cat, Miles, is celebrating his first Christmas. Imagine his joy when my son and I were stringing the lights up outside. I’m surprised we got the chore finished before dark. Now all I have to worry about is finding the light string chewed in half. I can see Miles now, orange eyes innocently wide despite every hair on his body standing on end. (Shudder)

Oh, and before I go, let’s not forget the tinsel episode. Last year I decided to put silver tinsel on the tree and had to snatch it back off when Vinnie started slurping it up like strings of spaghetti. Off course, not all of it stayed down and I had a wonderful time cleaning up after him the next few days. It was funny, though, when I went to sift the litter box and found several glittery ‘treasures’. I even invited my sons to come take a look and share in the laughter. After all, isn’t sharing what Christmas is all about?

Merry Christmas to all. Yes, even the cats.

Could I get a hug with that drumstick?

Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Four times a year I grant unto myself the freedom to indulge in potato salad, baked beans, squash casserole, dirty rice, ham, turkey, cake, pie… You get the picture. And yeah, I guess that should be over-indulge. Nor do I do this dirty deed alone. Oh, no. I drag my whole entire family to the table. Misery loves company, after all.

“Here, have a deviled egg. Take two, they’re small.”
“Want some Cool Whip with that pie?”
“Mmmmm, cornbread and collard greens, delicious.”
“Of course, I’d love another helping of dressing. Ladle on the gravy, baby!”

Gathering for a meal at the holidays is a ritual in our family. We meet, we eat, we talk, we laugh, and we renew the bonds that hold us together. Sometimes we even call a family gathering when there isn’t a holiday, just to shake things up a bit. You know, grill a few hotdogs and hamburgers, or fry up some fish and hush puppies. Not everything has to be about turkey and ham.

The best thing is that whatever the occasion, everyone always goes away full of more than just food. We stock up on hugs and smiles, encouraging words and humorous stories. Accomplishments are applauded. Failures are meticulously examined for silver linings and golden nuggets of wisdom. And dreams for the future are polished until they shine.

Yes, the fried turkey was juicy, the potato salad, perfect, and the pecan pie a slice of heaven, but though it may be the food that brings us together, it’s the heaping plate full of love that keeps us coming back for more.

An Author is Born

I can't believe it. Here it is only a year after I completed the first draft of Bloodsworn and I receive an email from a wonderful editor at Wild Rose Press informing me that she has received approval to offer me a contract on the book!

YES! I'm going to be a published author! God is good!

Can't sit back and bask too long, though. Time for edits and revisions, and re-writes now. Not to mention marketing classes. The hard work is just beginning. My schedule is going to be very busy the next few months. In addition to getting Bloodsworn ready for publication, I'm also working on another project.

Sniper Shots is a romantic suspense that recently finaled in The Golden Pen contest. Contest results should be announced by December 1st and I'd like to have the book finished by then. Not sure if such a deadline is feasible but I'm going to give it a shot.

Oh, and I'm going to have to start blogging a lot more often than once a year. :-)