Every year in September Jack and I trot happily off to emcee the Sycamore Shoals Celtic Festival in Tennessee. This year the chaos of getting away from a busy time at the shop and in my new book prep had us flying out the door Friday at 5 pm, shouting “and don’t forget to give Bert his pill” to Thom, the poor lad we’d sucked in at 10 that morning to shopsit the rest of the day. Since we’d be back Sunday and the animals have feeders and water jugs, and the yard is fenced, we weren’t worried. We got to our luxury hotel, bounced on the king sized sleigh bed a few times, and went out to grab an Indian meal.
When we awoke next morning to Facebook postings from home about the building downtown that had burned, you can imagine the luxuriated, lazy blood in my veins turning to jelly.
The building was a block away; no one was in it; all is as well as it can be. But I panicked, thinking about our three staff cats (one of whom resides by choice outside) two staff dogs (Bert the Terrier is terrified of loud noises) and three foster cats, sojourning with us until their forever families find them. Would Bert have dug under the fence to get away from an event so reminiscent of the dreaded thunderstorm? Would Beulah (outside greeter) be run over in the chaos of downtown fire traffic? Ernest Hemingway, our newest foster, landed with us Friday morning. He’d never even spent a night in our house; we took him straight from the shelter to have his balls cut off, thence home to abandon him for two days, and the firetrucks came.聽
(“Call this a rescue?” I could hear Ernie thinking. “Take me back to the shelter! I’ll take my chances!”)
So I did what any modern American woman panicking does: got on Facebook and begged our Saturday shopsitters Wes and Rachael to let me know as soon as they got there if everything was okay. And here’s what happened
-
-
聽
Glenn Gannaway聽Wendy, the fire was in the vacant building on the main intersection (Wood and 5th Street). Four fire departments did a bang-up job containing it, working through the night.
-
-
-
-
-
Wendy Welch聽Thank you! Bert is terrified of loud noises, and we have a new foster kitty. Should be 3 staff cats, 2 staff dogs, and four foster kitties,聽
Elizabeth Cooperstein. THANKS!
-
-
-
Rachael Miller聽We’re here and everything looks fine so far including the new foster and both dogs
-
-
-
-
-
Rachael Miller聽Oh good!! Wendy said four fosters and we could only find three – thanks!!
-
-
-
-
Tamra Sorrels Igo聽Stephen went down for a story today; apartments were all empty because they were being renovated. Downstairs was used for storage. All is well.聽
17 hours ago聽路聽
Unlike聽路聽
1
-
Wendy Welch聽Jack told me I’d miscounted. Joan was adopted yesterday or the day before – I’ve lost count! Thanks for giving Ernie his meds, and Bert his pill, and all the babies a reassuring rub,聽
Rachael Miller聽and聽
Wesley Hearp
That, ladies and gentlemen, is community: some of the friends above in live in Big Stone; others are out-of-staters who聽read聽Little Bookstore聽. Michael lives in Glasgow, Scotland. Jeanne is right; we are blessed. The fosters kitties thank you. The staff dogs and cats thank you. Jack and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and stand ready to return the favor when needed. We love being part of this community.
From time to time authors get incredibly humbling messages about what their books have meant to people. Balancing out the egotism that follows these moments are the one-star reviews and snarky private messages. So please don’t get the idea that it’s all teacups and roses once you publish. 馃槈
Wendy Welch: Books, Yarn, Cats, Opioids 