Handsome Sam!

Almost a year ago, after fostering a couple of cats here at the store, I decided to take in Sammie.  Sammie was a stray who was being fed by some very kind people who couldn't take him themselves, but wanted to find him a home since the cold weather was setting in.  I'd hoped Sammie would be happy enough at the store to make it his permanent home, but was willing to at least foster him if he wasn't content to live here.  Perish the thought!

I had Sam tested, vaccinated, and "fixed", then took him to my home after his fixin', so that I could keep an eye on him during his recovery.  He wouldn't settle down at home however, and after much "complaining" by Sam, I brought him back to the store, willing to sleep here on the floor if I had to, in order to make him happy and keep an eye on him.  Nuthin' doin'!  He immediately stopped crying, found a comfy spot to lay down, and proceeded to fall asleep.  He was home!

From the beginning, Sammie has been perfectly happy at the store.  He loves attention from our customers and even has a "following" of people who stop in just to say, "Hi" to Sam and get a cuddle or two.  Sam is also one of the most patient, gentle, and pliable cats I have ever met.  He loves children, but even if one of the really young ones gets a little rough, simply because they're a little rambunctous, Sammie takes it in stride and has never raised a paw to any of them.  I've dressed him in a bowtie, and a pumpkin costume, and he is happy to let me do it!  Sammie even enjoys going out for walks on a leash (does he ever!!), all you have to do is shake the leash and harness and he runs over and waits to have his harness fastened on!  Despite his eagerness to go out for a walk however, he never tries to venture farther than the sidewalk in front of the store; he strolls down to one corner of our block, back past the store to the other corner, perhaps down to the first one again, then trots back into the store as if he's fulfilled his security detail for the day.

At first, I'd been a bit concerned about having a cat at the store (permanently, that is, as opposed to the foster cats we've had here), as I know some people have allergies, phobias, or just plain don't like cats, but Sam has had WAY more positive attention, than negative.  Sammie is as much a part of Our Mother's Keepers as I am...besides, I think I'd be run out of town if some members of his fan club came to visit and he wasn't here!



Mother's Musings...

Okay, so I'm not the "Mother" in the title of my store (do you know who is??), but I am a mother, I'm musing, and I like alliteration.

I've been in a musing mood lately, thinking about the business: what products to keep and/or add, what to let go, what to focus on more, what to do less, how to better build community and connections in my town...and beyond.  One of the things I decided to do was to host events here at the store, events of the informative, healing, spiritual, or soulful nature.  A recent healing event I hosted at the store inspired me to refocus and revisit my thoughts and intentions, including my professional ones.  I wrote and posted the following on the store's Facebook page, and I think it sums up these thoughts and intentions fairly well:

"I opened this store nearly two years ago with the desire to do good.  To support both local and other deserving artisans and craftspeople around the world.  To provide products that are good for the soul and the planet.  To encourage and help maintain peace and good health in body and mind.  To promote awareness of important issues and support worthy causes near and far.  To assist in creating and sustaining a sense of true community within my community, regardless of the various personal, cultural, and spiritual demographics that reside within said community.  Right now, in front of me, there is a display of walking sticks; one features a Celtic cross, another has an eagle totem.  To my right are Buddhist prayer malas, next to some rainbow pride bracelets.  To my left is a shelf, upon which sits a wooden box adorned with a cross, near another box decorated with a five pointed star.  In order to stay in business, of course, I must sell these (and many other) products, but in order to promote this sense of universal community that I feel compelled to do, I draw on ideologies and strengths from many corners of the globe, much like the varied nature of my merchandise."

If you add to that statement my desire to help show compassion, give care, and a new life to some of society's abandoned, abused, unwanted, or unloved animals, then I think it would be a great synopsis of my intentions.  Sure, some may (and have) state(d) their belief that I shouldn't have a "store cat" or "showcase" the occasional cat or kitten for other organizations at my place of business, but as an animal lover, I feel compelled to do what I can to comfort these creatures and give them or help guide them to a better life.  It's just all part of my desire to make this world a better place...to improve and sustain ("keep", if you will...) our nurturing Earth (much like a "Mother" to us all)...

...because we are all Our Mother's Keepers.

~ Leesa