Now that I am foster-free, and not doing anything for the rescue anymore, life is a whole lot different. So here's a bit of catch-up.
A fellow blogger buddy recommended some books recently. I haven't had this kind of time to read in many years. I was a bookstore manager and publisher (and published author) for decades but in the last maybe 10 years, if I got through a book a month, that was a lot. No more. I'm devouring books, about 1 every 2-3 days, as if they were chocolate cake with peanut butter icing, or the really spectacular pumpkin spice bundt cake that my local bakery is making now.
The book I picked up, on the recommendation of my blogger friend, was Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear. I have a soft spot for books in series to begin with, and my husband has read all of these, so it seemed like a good one to grab from the library. There's so much I enjoyed about the first book (and I'm reading the second one in the series now), but I adore one of the characters, the sort of wise soul of the books, Maurice Blanche. Very early in the book I found these words he speaks to Maisey:
"Truth walks toward us on the paths of our questions...As soon as you think you have the answer, you have closed the path and may miss vital new information. Wait awhile in the stillness, and do not rush to conclusions, no matter how uncomfortable the unknowing."
The passage could have been in neon, with signs saying "Read me...a few more times." It is so my life in transition from rescue to whatever. The first two weeks of being kittenless I just about lost my mind, but now I'm rather enjoying the freedom from responsibility, and the time to do things of my own. I'm still exploring what might fill my days, how I might help, and more, but enjoying the journey.
I've been doing yoga and the strength & stretch classes 2-3 times a week, and I'm amazed how much better and happier I feel. I've always been so busy and tired that exercise came way down on the list of priorities, but it's at the top now. I feel so energized and enthusiastic about everything when I leave class each time.
Gracie and I have been enjoying more time for pet therapy visits. We had a visit a couple nights ago at the rehab hospital, one of our favorite places to visit. She got a lot of invitations, as always, to spend the night! There is a Puppy Mill Awareness Day on Saturday and they have a lure coursing track, and Gracie loves that stuff, so we might go there for a bit. If so, I'll get some video! I have more time for our own pets in general, which has been very nice.
It is amazing now, to have time to do things besides pet sit and work on rescue stuff. We're actually looking at free weekends and planning stuff we'd like to do. I can't remember how many years it's been since we could do much of that. And we go on vacation in a few weeks, without me having to take the computer along and manage rescue stuff. Woo hoo!
I'm enjoying helping out an organization named Cocoa Packs on Wednesday afternoons. They distribute food to the families of children in our school system who are dealing with food insecurity. Everyone is happy - volunteers and those getting food - and I really look forward to that now.
And reading up a storm. Luckily there are a whole lot of books in the Maisey Dobbs series, and there is a new book coming out from my all-time favorite author, Louise Penny, in late October. She gets better with every book, and the new one is getting starred reviews everywhere. Can't wait to read it. The challenge with her books is that I want to read it in one sitting, and I hate leaving the book when done. I try to read a little at a time but it never works.
That's the update for now. A little less about kittens...sorry...but looking for other ways to help the animals for now. It's time to step back from being in charge of anything outside of family and our critters for the time being. Have a great weekend, and thanks for reading.
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