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The trip was difficult – 1882 miles in four days. We had one and only one meal we could eat – that one with a former participant in my juried intensive poetry workshop, a great restaurant called Edibles in Rochester. Celeste Schantz is a wonderful poet and a very kind and responsible woman. A woman, Rachel Hall whose manuscript of short stories I chose as the winner of a contest of which the prize was publication came up to me, thanked me and gave me a small box of some of the most delicious caramel chocolates I’ve ever tasted. Thanks to both of them. The cats were angry when we got back just before supper. Xena had expressed herself all over the diningroom floor. Puddles. But by evening they were happy to jump on us and purr madly. For Willow it was the first time since she arrived that we were not around and she was scared and confused. Melenie and Naomi fed them and gave them attention, but it was not the same. We’re experiencing a frightening drought here. I’m sure the vacationers and summer people were thrilled by an August that never rained, but perennials and annuals are dying and trees are dropping yellow leaves already. There are frequent brush fires that can easily spread – they don’t call them pitch pines for nothing. We worry about our well with having to water every other day. Woody has asked me not to discuss his ailments on my blog as he hates going around town and having people say, How’s your hamstring or whatever. We just had a drama about a cat named Dido. A daughter and a son who don’t live on the Cape decided without consulting their 90 year old mother to put her in assisted living while they were visiting for Labor Day. The mother had a cat who is 10 years old. Someone told them to contact me to rehome her. I gave them various options. I knew I couldn’t find a local home with such a fast deadline – Labor Day weekend and then soon after they were off. I recommended various no-kill shelters. They decided to take her to Brewster where she would be executed almost immediately. I involved the saintly Joan Norris, who offered to take the cat into her no-kill roomy shelter The Last Resort where the cat who was used to going outside freely during the day, would be able to use a run. We got the superkitten Willow there. She is the most amazing kitten we’ve ever had for adaptability, agility, boldness, affection and playfulness. Joan ran into fierce family quarrels and it looked as if Dido would be executed after all. Many phone calls and emails from Joan and me. Joan offered to stand beside route 3 while the son was driving to the airport and take Dido. That is finally the arrangement. I hope it works out. By the time I post this, I’ll know. People treat us senior citizens like children with no wills or desires. Dido had been a faithful and affectionate companion for her person for 10 years, sleeping with her person every night, sitting on her lap purring, bringing joy into her person’s life. She did not deserve to be executed. She’s a beautiful longhaired Maine coon cat, and Joan believes she can find someone who will want her. Joan has rehomed 18,000 cats over the years. I won’t post this until I know what happened with Dido. I doubt they have any idea who I am, but I can’t take any chances of them hearing about my blog and deciding to dump her in Brewster to be offed as revenge for telling their story.=========Joan got Dido and is making her comfortable. It turns out they said that she had all her shots, but she hasn’t been to a vet since she was a kitten. Joan will have to bring her up to speed and get her checked out for infectious diseases. She told these people that even at the reduced rate her vet gives here, it would cost $138. They said they would pay it and then they stiffed her. At least Dido is safe. I wonder about the mother. And finally it rained yesterday and all night – at least. Wonderful rain.Melenie had her last day working for me Wednesday. I have one more trip and then I’ll put an ad in the paper and start looking.