MeandMyMewse
辛迪·錢伯斯/CindyChambers
Accordingtomydictionary,a「Muse」isanyofthenineGreekgoddesseswhopresideoverthearts.Thismeansthat,asawriter,Inotonlygettoworkinmypajamas,Icanalsoclaimmyowngoddesswhowillanswermyprayersintimesofliterarydistress.
Luckily,there』snoneed,sinceIhaveNecco,apeach-coloredtortoiseshellcattoserveasmyownpersonal「mewse」.
Thecatdiscoveredusatthelocalanimalshelter.Wewerelookingforaquiet,neatpettocomplementourboisterousdog,Emma.WefoundNeccoinstead.
Assoonasweenteredtheshelter,shecalledtousinanoisychirpsthatmadeitclearsherequiredimmediateattention.Theyellowtagonhercage—thesymbolshowingthatthiswasherlastday—backedupherurgentrequest.Whenthecagedoorswungopen,shesteppedintomyarmsandsettledbackwithalookthatclearlysaid,「Whattookyousolong?」
Sixmonthsoldandbarelythreepounds,Neecowastednotimeestablishingherselfastheoneinchargeofourlives.Theleatherchairwasherscratchingpost.TheChristmastreewasherplayground.Andthemantel,neatlydecoratedwithacollectionofbrasscandlesticksofallshapesandsizes,waswhereshediscoveredtheFelineLawofGravity:Catsgoup,candlestickscomedown.Thef?irstdaintyswipeofapawresultedinasatisfyingcrash.Sodidthesecond,thirdandfourth.Bythef?ifthcrash,Necco』sfaceborethecatequivalentofagrin.Shehaddiscoveredherpurposeinlife.
IthappenedthatNecco』sskillsreachedherpeakjustasmylifereachedalowpoint.Mytwenty-yearmarriagehadshudderedtoastop,leavingmewithaten-year-olddaughter,Katie,andalargehometosupportonanadvertisingcopywriter』ssalary.A1thoughIworkedfull-time,thepaywasmodestandIoftenfoundmyselfwithmorebillsthanpaycheck.IsoonrealizedIwouldhavetoworkasafreelancewriterjusttomeetexpenses.
Thatmeantgettingupat4:00a.m.,writingfortwohours,andthengettingreadyforwork.Eighthourslater,Iwouldreturnhome,f?ixdinner,helpKatiewithhomework,cleanthehouseandgetreadyforanotherdayswork.Ifellintobedexhaustedat11:00p.m.onlytocrawloutofbedwhenthealarmsoundedat4:00a.m.thenextday.
Theroutinelastedexactlytwoweeks.Despitegallonsofcoffee,Icouldn』tseemtoproduceanything.Iwascranky,frustrated,lonelyandreadytoadmitdefeat.Writingwashard.Payingbillswasevenharder.Theonlyanswerwastosellthehouseandgetaninexpensiveapartment.Unfortunately,thatwouldmeanmorelossesforKatieandme.Especiallysincenoapartmentintownallowedpets.
Ihatedthethoughtoff?indinganotherhomeforusall,andIespeciallyhatedthethoughtoftellingKatieaboutthechangesinstore.Depressed,Isleptthroughthe4:00a.m.alarmthenextday.Andthenextandthenext.F?inally,Iquitsettingit.