The holidays can be a beautiful time of year where we gather with family and friends over good food and exchange gifts. But it can also be a sad time as we remember those who are no longer with us. This is the second Christmas without my mother and my cat Oliver. While I know that both of them had poor qualities of life toward the end, it didn’t make it any easier to say goodbye. I still think of them, not only during the holidays but whenever something reminds me of them. The memories are sweet but also sad.
I was blessed to have two kittens come into my life after I lost Mom and Oliver. I know my mother, a cat lover, would’ve loved Harry and Hermione. Since I believe in signs, I also think she may have had something to do with my finding them and maybe Oliver did, too. I lost two and gained two. They will never replace Mom or Oliver, but Harry and Hermione have helped my heart heal.
Oliver’s last Christmas, 2017
Here are some photos of Oliver and my mother from years past and also some pictures of Harry and Hermione from their first Christmas with us last year. I wish you all the same joy that takes away some of the sadness of your losses. Remember the good times and cherish those you hold dear today. Every minute with our loved ones is precious and can’t be replaced.
My brothers and I with Mom, Christmas 2013Me with Mom, Christmas 2017 (her last)
Hermione at 5 months old, Christmas 2018Me and Harry, Christmas 2018
I'm a librarian at a public library and author of the Cobble Cove cozy mystery series and other novels, short stories, poems, articles, and a novella. My books include CLOUDY RAINBOW, REASON TO DIE, SEA SCOPE, MEMORY MAKERS, TIME'S RELATIVE, MEOW AND PURRS, and the 5 books of my Cobble Cove cozy mystery series: A STONE'S THROW, BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, WRITTEN IN STONE, LOVE ON THE ROCKS, and NO GRAVESTONE UNTURNED. I've also written a romantic comedy novella, WHEN JACK TRUMPS ACE, and short stories of various genres published as eBooks by Solstice Publishing and in anthologies published by the Red Penguin Collection.
My standalone psychological thriller, SEA SCOPE, my medical mystery, MEMORY MAKERS, and my time-travel novel, TIME'S RELATIVE are published by NEXT CHAPTER PUBLISHING who has also published my cat poetry book, MEOWS AND PURRS, and the first book of my new Buttercup Bend cozy mystery series, THE CASE OF THE CAT CRAZY LADY. I've also signed with Next Chapter for a reprint of PET POSTS: THE CAT CHATS, my non-fiction cat book that will be retitled MEMORIES AND MEOWS. In addition, Solstice Publishing has published, SNEAKY'S SUPERNATURAL MYSTERY AND OTHER COBBLE COVE STORIES, a collection of four stories previously published as eBooks only and a new fifth story in a print and eBook collection.
I am a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Long Island Authors Group, International Thriller Writers, and the Cat Writers' Association. I live on Long Island with my husband, daughter, and 3 cats.
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3 thoughts on “Christmas Memories and Happy Holiday Wishes for my Readers”
The holidays can be a beautiful time of year where we gather with family and friends over good food and exchange gifts. But it can also be a sad time as we remember those who are no longer with us. This is the second Christmas without my mother and my cat Oliver. While I know that both of them had poor qualities of life toward the end, it didn’t make it any easier to say goodbye. I still think of them, not only during the holidays but whenever something reminds me of them. The memories are sweet but also sad.
I was blessed to have two kittens come into my life after I lost Mom and Oliver. I know my mother, a cat lover, would’ve loved Harry and Hermione. Since I believe in signs, I also think she may have had something to do with my finding them and maybe Oliver did, too. I lost two and gained two. They will never replace Mom or Oliver, but Harry and Hermione have helped my heart heal.
Ruff Drafts 
Merry Christmas. Beautiful tribute.
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I love that ornament with you Mom’s picture. Merry Christmas!
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Thanks, Edie. I had one made for my husband’s family when my mother-in-law passed away and made one when I lost my mom, too.
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