On Friday I picked up a navy gift bag of Kana’s cremains from the vet’s office. The ashes are in a little cedar box, and they came with a pawprint and two tiny vials of fur marked “Kana Castle.” I’m going to order a little brass plate for the box, just as I did for Tiger Queenie Princess Mimi, Felix, Pear Blossom, and Macavity. Of course, I took photos of everything, but I won’t trigger you by posting them! Everything is on the bookshelf altar of my late furbabies.
The wonderful Cleaver Magazine has published a flash story I wrote about being a medical student on “Grand Rounds” with a mentor/teacher doctor: Another Week Left of Grand Rounds with Dr. Webber
The flash editor Kathryn Kulpa worked with me on little revisions. She was very helpful. Her new chapbook was just released, and I ordered it, but it hasn’t arrived yet. Here is her book launch: For Every Tower, a Princess book launch You can hear little short readings from some of the other Cleaver faculty.
The baby goes to “school” part-time, and Grandpa and I have him part-time. He is very active, preferring to be crawling rather than sitting still, and standing rather than crawling, climbing rather than standing, and he can’t wait to walk on his own, which he can already do while holding my hands. He turned 8 months old Thursday. I set up 3 electric jack o’lanterns to get him used to Halloween! He LOVES his swim lessons. He even will float on his back with one hand under the back. And if I ask him if he likes school, he laughs a gleeful sound. He doesn’t say anything yet, but I am working on “grandma” being his first word. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
It’s been hard to write, between the baby, my painful legs (tendinitis all over), and lots of other life stuff going on, but I plan to take Kathy Fish’s Immersion tomorrow. It’s a 3 day writing party that is free if you are a paid subscriber to Kathy’s substack, which I am. The Art of Flash Fiction Sign up if you want to join me there Sunday, Monday, Tuesday!!!
I’m so sorry to hear about your cat, Luanne! I know how much that hurts to lose a furry family member. But I was delighted to hear about your little grandchild. He sounds adorable. My baby just turned 12! I can remember when she first learned to swim in our pool, absolutely fearless! Like little dolphin. She’s still that way. It is hard to write with so much going on, I feel that too these days. Congratulations too on your flash fiction! It’s been so much fun to follow your publishing journey. Take care, my friend. I don’t check in often, but always feel a warm glow whenever come across one of your posts.
Deborah, I thought about you the other day, wondering how you’re doing. It’s the grandbaby, I think. I cannot believe how long about that was you were telling me about the TODDLER. 12 now!!!! Wild. AW, that’s so sweet of you to say that about reading my posts. I will go check out your blog. I haven’t seen it in my reader in a long time, but then for months I was just doing baby care every day haha. So happy to hear from you!
Congratulations on the publication of your flash story. It is viscerally horrific!
Oh yay! My work is done then. 🙂 Yes, it should be. Illness, doctor, the process, all of it: horrifying. Thanks, Liz!
Have you published anything in the Bellevue Review? I immediately thought of them when I read the story.
No, and I think a long time ago I was rejected there. unless I have the journal wrong.
I’ve been rejected by them, too.
Let’s have a rejections party!
Sounds like fun! We can make snarky remarks about editors grad student first readers.
Yes! We can drink wHine and maybe eat crow or something.
😀
By the way, you look so cute in that photo of you selling your books in the rain! What a wash out . . . . But one book is still a reader!!!
Thank you, Luanne! I was thrilled to get a sale after such a horrible time in the rain.
What a bummer. Of course, if you weren’t trying to sell books, you would be happy not to be here where it is still 112 and almost OCTOBER. Good grief.
Hi, Luanne,
Thanks so much for helping us to keep up with your life lately. I was devastated about your losing Kana and could totally relate to the “items” you described. We also have a collection of those little boxes now – I think I told you we plan to have them buried with our ashes in the little Fairview Cemetery in Texas.
Your little grandson is such a joy to you and the gardener – you can’t help but find their joy contagious. He’s in such a fabulous stage – I couldn’t wait for Ella to talk and walk but when Molly came along, I knew better!! Hint: If one grandchild is the most fun, two grandchildren require the wisdom of Solomon.
Glad your writing continues to be recognized!!!
Hang in there…
That is such a wonderful idea about the cemetery. The time we didn’t cremate was our pet rat (who we loved very much, thank you!) and we buried her in the back yard in a shoebox. Now the kids and I still get upset when we think of future homeowners there throwing away her bones! I really a enjoying ONE grandchild haha! Thanks, Sheila!
I certainly am impressed with your ability to take care of a grandchild. I would die for sure. Congrats on the story. I just felt something flutter under my skin.
OK, I had a hard time laughing about the fluttering when I was already cracking up about you dying by taking care of a baby! I am learning that we do what we have to do ;). Listen to this: my mom lives in a retirement community, as I think you know, but she’s now in the “big house” which is a big apartment building of independent living residents. One of the residents there, who is single and almost mom’s age, babysat a great grandbaby for one long weekend by herself. I about keeled over at the thought! That means nights! No breaks. Thanks re the story, John!
Wow. That was something.
It really was.
Hi Luanne. Good to see you grabbing moments to yourself and continuing to be successful in getting recognition for your writing. Your grandbaby sounds very advanced. Perhaps it is your guidance!
And my sympathies on losing Kana. The highs and lows of life are hard enough, and it seems they have come all at once for you just at the moment.
Thank you so much, Gwen. It’s true–highs and lows galore lately. I do think it helps the grandbaby to be with us for some of the time and now his “school” part of the time. He gets the best of both, I think, including swimming lessons when he is with us, which gives him a lot of confidence.
A very important skill for Aussie babies. Unfortunately, I didn’t master it until I was 11!
I have a collection of pawprints from my passed pets. It’s sometimes soothing and sometimes sad. Enjoy your grandbaby. They grow up so fast.
Aw, do you have the pawprints on display or in a drawer? Just curious . . . .
thank you!!!!! I can’t believe he’ll be a year in four months!!!!
They are in a box of cat mementoes. When Mollie passed, I buried her favorite bunny in the yard. I just couldn’t bear to see it without her.
Soooo sad.
I hope both your emotional and physical pains subside a life soon; congratulations of your flash fiction success
Thank you, Derrick. Sure good thing I have the baby to get me in a better mood!!!!
Life should have been little before WP got hold of it
Sorry about your leg pain and your loss. But a babies laughter can do wonders!!!! God bless!
Yes, he makes me so happy, even if I wasn’t before I see him and his big smile. I’ve started sitting in the back with him when we drive him because it makes him smile so big not to sit in the back by himself.
Your life does sound very busy. I feel for you about Kana. I have my little Ricky’s cremains and paw print.
Congratulations on your creepy flash piece. There’s a Dr. Webber (male) on Grey’s Anatomy, nothing like your character.
Your grandbaby and his parents are lucky to have you so nearby and willing to help. (BTW, we have a grandchild on the way–still months off though.)
Wow, how exciting! What a wonderful time of life! Yay!
Thanks re Kana. It’s so hard.
Someone else told me that about Dr. Webber. I didn’t watch that show, and the editors and workshop readers never said anything either. But of course I chose the name for the idea of “webbing.”
Thank you. 😊
Grey’s Anatomy is one of those shows I watch over and over. Guilty pleasure.
I love that you have an altar for all your fur babies on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. It’s so so hard to let go, even when you know it’s time.
Congratulations on your latest publication! For someone who doesn’t have a lot of time to herself, you are getting published a lot … and deservedly so 😘
I’m glad you’re getting some respite from watching the little one. Chasing after him was probably not helping your tendinitis 😉 Take care of yourself ❤️
Lifting and carrying him is the worst; 20 pounds..
Thanks so much, Marie. It’s just too too sad when the furbabies go. We are missing Kana so much. Even Lily (who is a little narcissistic) has been sad. Today she said (yes, I understand “cat”), “when I said I was sick of Kana I didn’t mean to lose her forever.” And I felt bad for her. It was if she she felt guilty for wanting to hog all the attention. Sigh.
I agree. Even when our cats showed disdain for each other, they still sense the loss when one of them is gone. And they can tell. Goodness, Raji used to love giving Maxine (RIP) a hard time (kind of like a bratty nephew), but when her health started to fail, he was noticeably kinder toward her. I wish humans were more that way!
Aw, sweet Raji. That’s so good of him. Even Lily is still missing Kana. She and Perry lay side by side now.
That made me smile. Since Junior had to be euthanized last September (I can’t believe it’s been over a year now), Raji is trying to become amigos with Wendy. Generally, she slaps him away (literally) but the other night, while Raji dozed, she came over and started grooming him! There’s hope 🙂
Oh that is so hopeful! It does take them time.
Have a great week. If you have time in October, please write some tanka or tanka prose for our first Sunflower Tanka journal on TankaTuesday. I’ll publish the journal in December. Your baby boy will keep you busy! Have fun. They all grow up so quickly. 🧡
I already have it on my calendar!!!!! Thank you. I can’t believe he’s going to be a year in just four months!!!!
Where does the time go? I enjoyed seeing the Little Man on FB. Thanks for sharing his cuteness. 🧡
Aw, you’re welcome ;). He makes my days!
I’m rooting for you to get Grandma as the first word!!!
It’s probably wrong of me, but hehe.
I was very sorry to hear about the loss of Kana, we miss them sorely when they leave us.
Glad that your grandchild is keeping you entertained as well as busy, that’s a cunning plan for his first word 🙂
Your story is vivid and chilling, congratulations!
I had to laugh at “cunning.” Perhaps diabolical haha.
Thank you re Kana and my story!!! I appreciate both comments so much, Andrea!
So sad to pick up Kana’s remains. Babies can do wonders for our energy and spirit.
It’s so hard to lose Kana. But baby Hudson is such an infectious smiler!
😀
Sorry for the delayed response. Crazy times. I had Smokey cremated and the ashes put into a lovely box, first time I’ve ever done that. But I did bury the box and marked it with a plant my mother had given me. I know that someday we will be gone and no one will know what’s below that plant (if the plant survives), but I like the idea that Smokey has returned to the earth and that someday so will I.
Shanah tova, my friend. Let’s hope for a good year ahead.
Shana Tovah! You did what made the most sense to you for Smokey. We all find our best way. XO
Yep.
Little Kana had a good life with you, Luanne. I am saddened by your loss, and feel your pain.
Your grandchild brings new energy and joy into your life. What an wonderful experience to see life through the eyes of a growing child!
Much love, Lavinia
Lavinia, thank you so much. I know you know what it’s like to lose your furbaby. Soooo sad.
But, yes, my grandson brings a smile to my face. It’s impossible not to smile when he smiles at me. xo
I am so very sorry for the loss of your cat. I hope you are feeling better with the tendinitis. Congrats on your story!!!
Linda, thank you so much. It probably isn’t tendinitis at all. A second diagnosis is being considered now . . . .
Keeping you in my prayers!
Thank you so much!
So sorry for your loss, but congratulations on your publication!
Dawn, thank you so much. I appreciate your condolences!