Twix the Cat, and writer Joanne Sher
Welcome, to guest blogger Joanne Sher!
I am definitely a cat lover. We had cats at home much of my growing-up life, with the occasional dog. But I definitely preferred the kitties. 
Just a few months after I got out of college, moved into my own apartment, and started my first job as a high school English teacher, I went looking for a feline to keep me company. I looked in the paper and found a lady whose cat had just had a litter and was looking to give them to a good home. I had one of those – so I drove out.
There were quite a few, but one uniquely colored one grabbed my attention. She was a calico female, but instead of black to go with her caramel and white, she was brown. And tiny. And super playful.
It didn’t take long to come up with her name. I called her Twix (because, of course, she was the three colors of that delicious candy bar). We quickly became buddies. And more. She snuggled in bed with me, tried to sleep in my underwear drawer, cuddled up on my lap, and, of course, plopped in the very middle of every essay, quiz, or assignment I attempted to grade.
Teaching was hard for me. VERY hard. And I was 75 miles from family. So Twix became my confidante. My comfort. She was the one I came home and cried to. She would curl up and purr close to me, calming me and sometimes even licking up my tears.
I ended up leaving teaching because of the struggles (more than once, actually – but that’s another story!), but Twix never left me. She went along with me through several career changes, tons of moves (including a cross-country one in the car. NOT her favorite trip, I guarantee you), plus the addition of a husband and two children (not to mention other cats!) to my household. And still she stayed.
We finally had to put her down because of throat cancer. She was 18 years old by then. It’s amazing the impact an animal can have on you. We’ve had others cats, both while she was with us and after she left the picture in 2009. But she’ll always be special.
Joanne Sher is a Jew by birth, a Christian by rebirth, and a writer by gift. A native Southern Californian, she now lives happily in West Michigan with her husband and two school-aged children.
Her first book, still seeking a home, explores God’s preparation, protection and provision through her husband’s serious health issues. She is also working on a biblical fiction set during King Saul’s reign and centered around the handmaiden of Saul’s daughter Michal.
She is also a regular blogger, not only at her own site, but at the FaithWriters blog. She also posts monthly at Jewels of Encouragement, The Barn Door, and Internet Cafe Devotions.
Traveling Rough Roads with God’s Strength, blogging at www.joannesher.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/joannesher/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Joanne-Sher-Christian-Writer/141050062580009
www.jewelsofencouragement.com www.faithwriters.com/blog
From Roxanne: Your books both sound wonderful, Joanne. You must be a very, very busy woman! I loved the story about your beautiful cat. I hope you’ll come back for another visit!
Roxanne, thanks so VERY much for having me! Love talking about my kitty! Maybe she’ll end up in a book later…hmmm 😉
Many of my horses and pets have ended up in my books, so go for it! 🙂
In fact, though the conventional wisdom is that one should never have a pet snake in a book, our son’s pet albino corn snake, Ssssid, was a significant part of my very first published book, Her Sister’s Children. The heroine’s orphaned nephew had issues with all of the turmoil in his life, and Ssssid became the boy’s pet, Igor. The first line of that book was, “If she’d known about the snake, Claire never would’ve left New York.” 🙂
But I definitely think a fluffy cat with personality would be a better bet!
Thanks again for joining the blog today!
Okay, Roxanne – if your son named his snake, I’m gonna say he’s TOTALLY clever! LOVE the extra esses.
Ahh, Joanne – we lost our 18 year old Mitzi several years back and since then our 13 year old Katy and 15 year old Stormy – each time Mick says “no more cats, I can’t take this anymore….” We still have 4 and got our new Christmas Kitten this past Christmas….GRIN Nothing better than a furry-purry! Thanks for sharing yours with us!
Our kids were inventive. 🙂 Andy’s tarantula was Ned. One of the last of the bunnies was Cadbury. Then there was Zane Grey ( a gray pony), Michael Jordan (a pony), Sir Hiss (a cockatiel with anger management issues), and Gimmis the guinea pig, whose triplets were Nibbles, Kibbles and Bits. There were dozens of other pets–furry, finned and reptilian–but these are the first that come to mind.
Marijo, so sorry to hear about the loss of your kitties. 🙁 It’s always so hard when that happens.
We tried to go without a cat for a bit too, Marijo – but it was NO USE! I think we survived three months LOL
This brought back memories. I remember Twix. Awwww, bless her heart. Like others who posted, it brings back memories of my Henry. There are certain animals who are so special. They will live in our hearts forever, special little furry friends sent from our loving Father.