Dear friends,
What a week it has been around here! On Wednesday morning, Bella was in my office, out of her crate. I opened the door and she darted out before I could stop her, then ran (cast and all) down the hall, out the open door, and into the bushes. Any time we came close she ran further away. I spent most of Wednesday night in my office, going out periodically to call for her, and leaving the door open so that she could come in. Nothing.
I finally went home about 3 a.m. to get a little sleep. I was sure I would come back to find her body somewhere on the grounds, But she was by the front door, still in her cast and collar. She mewed when she saw me, then ran again when I started walking to the door. Variations of this theme continued for the next day and a half.
Then late yesterday afternoon Bob Longino, who was at church setting up for Friday night bridge, called to tell me Bella was up against the foundation under Maggie’s office window, either dead or sleeping. Fortunately, it was the latter. I came and talked to her, and she let me come slowly to her. Then she let me scratch her head. And then I was able to get her. She is now back in my office, where she will stay.
In the midst of all the feline drama my laptop died. When trying to set up the new one I somehow managed to lock myself out of access to email on not just the new computer, but my phone and iPad, too. Many thanks to parishioner/neighbor/friend Misty Bentz for coming to my rescue. I have to add that it took even the astrophysicist a little while to figure it all out.
Despite all of these distractions I am (mostly) ready for tomorrow and looking forward to seeing you all. Remember that we are back to the program-year schedule with services at 8:30 and 10:45. And our adult Sunday School series on hope will continue at 9:30.
You may remember that earlier this year I realized it was time for a sabbatical. Rather than taking all three months at once, I am spreading it out, adding an extra month vacation to this year, and the following two. Tomorrow afternoon I begin the last two weeks of vacation/sabbatical for this year. Late tomorrow afternoon I am flying to Italy. I’ll be in Florence Monday- Saturday. By coincidence my brother and sister-in-law will be there at the end of the week. So I’ll have a few days on my own, then some time with them.
Then next Saturday I meet a group of six photographers for a week-long photo workshop in Tuscany. We’ll be staying in a villa in a little village about 1.5 hours south of Florence, with a chef who will fix breakfast and dinner for us every day. In between we’ll be roaming the Tuscan countryside, hopefully getting a lot of good photos. The leader of the group is a woman who I have taken classes from before. I don’t know any of the other participants, but I’m sure we will have a great time together.
I get home the night of September 27th and will be back in the office after that.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
With love,
Tricia
The return of the prodigal cat:
