Dear Reader Column 09-19-12

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Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

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Dear Reader,

Grab a box of tissue. You just might need it when you read today's guest columnist, author Anjali Banerjee. Such a lovely column, and a delightful book. Thank you Anjali for visiting the book clubs today.

Anjali would really love to hear from you and she is giving away five copies of her book, ENCHANTING LILY. When you send her an email, please include your mailing address, in case your name is drawn (US only). Anjali answers all of her mail personally. You can reach her through her website at: http://www.anjalibanerjee.com

Welcome author Anjali Banerjee...

On that hot August afternoon, I drove to the baseball field with some trepidation. A friend had seen a "sick-looking" cat sitting near the dugout, at the edge of the woods. So there I was, the cat lover, scanning the field for the kitty. She was easy to spot. A cream colored, long haired cat with Siamese markings, she stood out in stark contrast to the green backdrop of forest. She purred so loudly, I could hear her from several yards away.

What was I doing there? I couldn't adopt another cat. My husband and I already lived with three cats. But I couldn't leave this bedraggled kitty, so I dropped her into a carrier and rushed her to a veterinarian. Her diagnosis: diaphragmatic hernia, broken hip and broken ribs. Her intestines had moved up through a hole in her diaphragm and were pushing against her lungs. Her bluish gums indicated cyanosis, or lack of oxygen in the blood. What had I gotten myself into?

The vet wanted to euthanize the kitty, but I refused. I took her to a different vet, who tried surgery. While the cat was under anesthesia, the surgeon found old scars on her spleen. Sadly, she was also pregnant and had to be spayed, as her broken hip prevented her from giving birth.

The vet repaired the hernia and kept her overnight. The next day, when I visited her in the hospital, she staggered to the front of her cage, dragging her IV lines, her purr-engine running at the highest volume.

She spent the next two weeks recovering at home. One afternoon, as I lay on the bed beside her, she began vigorously grooming my hair. I believe she was thanking me for saving her life. Three weeks later, she started tearing around the house at top speed. The vet said, "She's just catching up on being a kitten."

All of this happened 12 years ago. The kitty has been with us ever since. My husband named her Cheyenne, but we call her Tiny, as she's the smallest of our cats (we now have five). She still grooms my head, still runs and jumps like a kitten, and I feel a deep sense of joy when I see her basking in the sun.

Only after I finished writing ENCHANTING LILY did I realize that I'd written something similar to my own cat's story--a tale of rescue, resilience and survival. The cat in the book even looks a bit like Tiny. I'm not sure how that happened--the subconscious mind works in mysterious ways.

Heartfelt thank you to Suzanne for hosting me on her blog today. I'm grateful, and I would love to hear from readers!

Best wishes,
Anjali Banerjee
http://www.anjalibanerjee.com

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

KIDSBUZZ: Meet new authors--send an email, ask a question and they will reply. Plus enter to win a free (signed!) copy of WHO'S IN MY FAMILY: ALL ABOUT OUR FAMILIES by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Nadine Westcott; ROYAL PRINCESS ACADEMY: DRAGON DREAMS by Laura Joy Rennert and Melanie Florian and CAPTAIN NO BEARD by Carole P. Roman. For a chance to win free copies, say hello to the authors, and more, see www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

AUTHORBUZZ: A HIDDEN TRUTH (Fiction) by Judith Miller

Have you ever wanted to discover more about the past, but found those who might help unwilling to aid in your search? In A HIDDEN TRUTH, that is exactly what happens to Dovie Cates when she attempts to gain answer about her mother's former life in the Amana Colonies. Will her zeal to find the truth ruin the relationship with the man she loves, and will the friendship forged with Karlina Richter be forever damaged by her actions?

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on A HIDDEN TRUTH to read more and to email author Judith Miller, you'll get a reply.

* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE TUNNEL by Ernesto Sabato. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag.  Go to: http://tinyurl.com/Sept12Classics

 

 

Comments

[Brandy Bosquez]

What a beautiful story I type with tears in my eyes. I tried to post earlier not sure what happened. I am a fellow cat/dog lover. Growing up in the country we always had pets wonder up or would find them at the local store and bring them home. We would nurse them back to health and have many years of companionship. We (well my mom as I no longer live at home) still have a black senior no idea how old she is late teens her name is Cheyenne!! She now lives in the laundry room as the hot Texas summers are too much for her. When visiting I always go sit with her for a while. She still has the strongest loudest purr for being so frail! I will be looking for your book as it sounds like something I would enjoy. Thank you for sharing your rescue story.

[Anjali]

Brandy,

Thank you for rescuing those lost and injured animals. You and your mom are wonderful. Your black kitty, Cheyenne, sounds like quite a lovely character, and she was lucky to find you. You and your mom are angels for keeping her inside during the hot summer.

All the best,

Anjali

[Susan Wingate]

I love this bit from your past. As a huge cat fan myself, I say "Bravo!" :)

[Anjali]

Thank you, Susan! Good to see you here.