Recently, I was standing in the shower and noticed one of our cats crouched on the mat outside the door. I am usually careful about closing the bathroom door, but it is a large bathroom, and sometimes the cats play Houdini and become invisible. We have two cats, but due to the texture of the shower door, I couldn’t determine whether it was the tabby or the black cat. Neither one would be good when I stepped out. Our black and white cat, Tux, is fascinated with bare toes.
He loves to lick them, but somewhere between one and numerous times, he will take a nip with his sharp teeth. Only he knows the magic number. Then there is Gertie, our tabby. She is a thirteen-pound loving feline who feels obligated to dry off any wet legs coming from the shower. So, there I stood, trying to think of a solution. Neither cat liked getting wet, and since there was a four-inch gap at the top of the shower door, I proceeded to splash water repeatedly through the opening. But the cat didn’t flinch.
When I cautiously stepped out, I was face to face with our gray space heater, well-christened with multiple water droplets. It was a particularly cold morning, and I had placed it on the mat facing the shower instead of by the sink.
Since June 2019, I have written a column for the Chimney Rock Chronicle every month. It has been an incredible journey, and I am grateful to Tammy Cullers, who offered me this opportunity. It took a significant part of each month, especially when it involved research and interviews. Interviews were my favorite part and took me into more homes in the valley than I can count. Meeting people who shared their lives with me enriched my life.
At this point in my life, the months are flying by, and I have neglected other writing projects that I’m yearning to complete. I want to thank each one who has been part of this journey with me in the preparations of the articles, my wonderful readers who encouraged me, and my dear daughter-in-love, Sarah Lilliendahl, who helped to polish my articles and make me look good.
P.S. If anyone has an old Sony microcassette-corder that plays a tiny 2-inch tape, I will gladly pay to rent it for a short time
