The love of Stalker Cat

We were anxious tonight because Mishka was late. She hadn't dropped by this morning and she wasn't waiting impatiently in the driveway when we got home in the afternoon. As night settled she was nowhere to be seen.

It wasn't until after dinner that we saw her familiar shadow in the darkness. We opened the door for her and in she strolled, taking her pick of the four laps waiting for her. Our beautiful Mishka.

Except she's not ours. She's the stalker cat, the one who peered through the window and miaowed so insistently that we let her in. Time and time again, she came until we realised tonight that she hasn't missed a day in the last seven months.

Once she's here, she curls up on our laps and sleeps for hours. Or she sits on a chair in the kitchen and pounces on us as we pass. We don't feed her. We provide nothing for her. She comes here just for the love.

Mishka has a home and owners who love her very much. But for some reason, that's not enough and she feels the void with us. And in the meantime, she has filled the void in our lives. It's been a very difficult year and she turned up at just the right time. Beautiful girl!

Love is to be cherished in all its forms. Thank you, Mishka.

My Stars

My Stars
On the day I was born,
The unalterable stars altered.
If I decided to sell lamps,
It wouldn't get dark till the day I died.

Some stars. Whatever I do,
I'm a failure before I begin.
If I suddenly decided to sell shrouds,
People would stop dying.

Abraham ibn Ezra (1029 - 1067)


With the Christchurch earthquake this week, many questions arise about fate. Does it come down to what is written in the stars or is it blind luck?

A few months ago, at a conference, a presenter told us to be careful about 'your story.' She suggested that the same things happen to you over and over again because it's 'your story' and you have to be careful about the tale you choose to tell. So if you're story is that you can never get anywhere on time, then the world will conspire against you so that you will never be anywhere on time, no matter how much you try.

Seems like a defeatist attitude to me.

Surely,I can ignore the stars and write my own destiny.

The boy emerges

Five days felt like forever when we were waiting for Keegan to arrive. An eternity. Every night, I would go to bed still pregnant, and every morning I would wake up - still pregnant. It was interminable. It felt as though we had missed our window of opportunity and that this baby would never come into the world.

And then, of course, the contractions started and within a surprisingly short time, I was holding a baby. Four beautiful days with a boy sleeping in the cot next to my bed. Just the two of us getting to know each other.

They are the days you wish you could pour into a bottle and relive whenever you want. Where is a pensieve when you need it?

Nine years later and my boy is almost up to my shoulder. He asks questions that show he's starting to make connections with the broader world and he is becoming increasingly more balanced in his emotions. He's bright and quick and funny - deliberately funny. He hugs us, loves and, and - mostly - gets along well with his little brother.

I couldn't imagine this boy nine years ago when I looked into the eyes of my brand new baby. It feels like the world's longest 'hatching,' watching my boy break free of his first shell and grow into a man. In another nine years, when he turns 18, I'm sure I'll look at him and marvel that I couldn't see this man hidden behind his nine year old eyes.

Happy Birthday, Keegan. Thank you for coming into our lives.

A confession

A few weeks ago, when I was visiting my parents they found a humongous caterpillar in a bush.

They set it aside to kill and, when they weren't looking, I released it back into the garden.

I know they eat up beautiful plants but without caterpillars there are no butterflies.

Plus, I hate to see any creature die. Hope it made the most of its freedom!

Shh! Don't tell!

The gift of Good Fortune

Just before Christmas I was given a Fortune Plant. The rules are simple:
1. You can't buy one for yourself but have to be given one.
2. Put it in a sheltered place, water and fertilise it and...
3. As is grows (slowly), so too will your fortune.

Ruth and Randolph gave it to me before they moved to Brisbane - just in time for the floods! Luckily, their good fortune held and they moved into a house that was high and dry.

In the time they had the plant, it seems to have done very well for them so I'm hoping that if we love and nurture it, it will do well for us also. Please don't let me kill it!

The interesting thing is that a Google search shows there are many different types of plants that are known as Fortune Plants. From the sound of it, many cultures have been keen to bring wealth into their homes any way that they can!

I'm certain a feng shui guide will tell me placing this in my hallway will cause all my fortune to escape out the front door. However, I'm keen to believe it's going to attract fortune, causing it to stream up the steps and into my life.

Thank you Ruth and Randolph. May your good fortune continue in Brisbane. And Fortune Plant, please thrive and prosper in my home!