That Place You Love: Real People. Real Stories.
Round-Up on CATS!; Next-Up Coincidence. Past themes with links!
Was a time not so long ago when editors said,
“No one wants to read cat stories.”
I thought, “What about Murakami? What about Oates?”
They do amazing things with cats in their stories.
Why can’t we mortals?
Something I’ve noticed about the subject of cats is many people qualify themselves as either a…
Cat person
or
Not a cat person
There’s a great divide between Cat Us and Not Cat Them.
My neighbor, who I wrote about in Texas Hold ‘Em & The Feral Five, has an apron hanging in her kitchen with cats on it. You have to look closely to see the pattern is nothing but a puzzle of cat silhouettes.
“Yes, I admit it!” she said. “I’m a cat lady.”
Not a cat person but a cat lady.
Are there cat gentlemen?
Something to think about…
If you’ve missed a week or you’re starting to feel like you might have a story to contribute, click on a THEME LINK to write 150 - 200 words on:
I always include new posts with unique links in the Round-Up.
Round Up on CATS! New Theme - Coincidence - below!
If you’re reading this for the first time…
And want to know more about the ZINE’s mission, go to ABOUT or FORUM on the Substack platform or read the introductory post I WAS AN EASY LIAR.
6 Contributors weighed in on CATS!:
I wrote about the death of a woman I barely knew to the paws of a wild cougar and how my limit on cats has grown to 5 if they live outside and won’t breed.
Carol M had no love for cats until she took care of Leo, her neighbor’s long-haired feline, who wooed her into a deep, cozy nap with his somatic purrs.
Karen E, neither a cat person nor a cat writer, draws the line between cats and dogs, preferring affection to be Extra Warm and in no way aloof.
Carole D tells the tale of Tom, a cat that survived many a challenge through the love of his cat momma and the human sisters who doted on him.
Plus, a movie reference I’ve never heard of: The Tree Lives of Thomasina… Watch the trailer. Super trippy!
Tabitha B finds kinship in the cat’s ability to prowl at night, unsuspected and nearly invisible until caught in the headlights or spotlights of us humans.
Autumn L admits she would be a Cat Lady if she didn’t have the discipline to keep the cat count low and finds inspiration in their natural self-confidence.
Intact Animal discovers cat allergies don’t stop some people from having cats if their loved ones are Cat People, and that mortality is a reminder to embrace it.
READ & HEART this week’s writers & SHARE your own story in the comments.
Next Up: Coincidence
Sometimes I get mail about becoming a member of a class action suit against some big company. Even though it could be spam, I take five-minutes to check if I was indeed a customer during the period of time the lawsuit encompasses.
Last year, I received an email in reference to litigation against Yahoo! for a customer data security breach. I had a Yahoo! account during the months indicated in the suit, and I filled out the form to add my name to the plaintiffs.
I may only get a check for $2, I knew, but if a million of us get a check for $2 then we’re making an impact on Yahoo! together.
Earlier this week, I asked my mail service in Los Angeles to photograph the mail in my PO Box to see if they should forward anything on to me.
There was mail from the Yahoo! settlement.
A check dated 6/30/23 for $69.83!
BUT, I had to deposit it by September 28, 2023 or it would be voided… the exact day I was looking at the photograph the Mail Shoppe sent me the photograph of the check.
Now that’s a coincidence.
Where does COINCIDENCE take you?
Read & Share on Monday in 150 - 200 words!
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More to come on Monday….
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely, for real.
Michelle