🥳🎉 Happy New Year, Global Book Awards, and Miracles!

Happy New Year!

How many of you believe in miracles? I’ve always said that I did although haven’t experienced one myself, unless you count the ear surgery I had at age 13 that restored hearing in my left ear after being virtually deaf since age 5. But there are a lot of medical miracles these days.

I’m talking about everyday sort of things, like winning the lotto or a car or something totally random. In my case, it’s about my 2 year old orange tabby male “Cheddar” who jumped out of the passenger window of my husband’s Palisade while we waited at the medical clinic in the parked, engine-off, windows-rolled-up car for him. All of a sudden I heard a window open. Cheddar had stepped on the automatic “open window” button and was out before I could catch him. I intercepted my younger kitty fortunately.

I did all the things you’re supposed to do when you lose a pet—notify the veterinary clinics and the Humane Society, hang posters with your adorable pet’s picture in all the places you can, and wait. In my case, I was less than optimistic that Cheddar would find his way home because he jumped out in a place unfamiliar to him, it was about a mile away from my home, across the lake, and he’s an indoor cat.

On Christmas Eve at about 9:30 pm, I got a phone call from a lady that I’d met in my search up and down the streets a few blocks from the hospital. She thought she’d seen a new orange cat around but could never catch a photo to be sure. And there are two other orange cats who live down the street from her. Turns out, Cheddar bummed food from a guy who had three indoor/outdoor cats with a cat door. He finally noticed the poster on her garage door (I’d posted a fresh sign after all the recent rain) and told her about his new visitor.

Yes, it was my cat. He started meowing (he’s a very vocal kitty) when I called his name and let me pick him up after sniffing his collar that I’d kept in my coat pocket and tasting the kitty treats I’d opened as a lure. He’s happy to be home and talking constantly about his adventure. He sticks to me like glue.

My other kitty, Button, however, is a little miffed. She may be smelling the other animals and the man. I’m sure they’ll be best friends by bedtime.

And that’s my Christmas miracle!

Speaking of miracles, I got word late December that Killer Flowers was selected as a Finalist in the Global Book Awards and was awarded the Gold! It is a thrill to have my cozy mystery recognized as worthy of considering!

Until next time, happy reading!