Taking a time out

I’ve been trying to compose a goodbye post in my head, a final piece to let you know that Carreen’s Rescue Blog is going quiet for a while. Obviously I’ve been procrastinating, because it’s been more than a month since I last wrote here.

In the meantime, I’ve had inquiries from readers wondering why I’ve disappeared, where I’m hiding and if I intend to show my words again.

It’s not that I’ve run out of stories to tell. I’ve got ample material. My file folder marked “Carreen’s Rescue Blog” has expanded like a muscle on steroids. I have boxes and boxes of stuff. So many boxes that I’m losing my living space inch by paper inch.

No, I had planned to sign off for a bit because I’m working on three lengthy writing projects that are occupying most of my mental real estate these days. As the blog grew, it was growing more difficult to manage along with these projects.

Still, I’m sure I won’t be able to resist posting once in a while. I’ve been in blogger withdrawal out here. And while the other writing I’m doing is grabbing my mind’s attention, I’ve never written for this long of a stretch being isolated from feedback. I’m realizing how important reader interaction is to me, and how it feeds my creativity.

I think that’s why I’ve been procrastinating. Because I’ve become attached to wordsmithing for you.

I won’t be going completely silent. There are stories that must be told, particularly those that continue a tale I've already started telling. I can’t stand an unfinished story.

There are already a couple of updates to report. There’s the loss of a man, the partner to my dear friend battling cancer. In an earlier story, you heard about her two cats, who are loyally standing by her through the ordeal. I had planned a follow-up on the love of her life, a man out of prison who has cared for Jewel through her illness. We never got to that interview. He died suddenly and unexpectedly last Sunday.

And there’s an inspiring gain -- a restoration of a family connection. I wrote about a homeless man living in his Ford Fairlane with his two cats. His daughter had been searching for him for years from California, and finally stumbled across his name in Carreen’s Rescue Blog. She emailed me, and I was able to put them in touch.

I hope to report more soon on these and other stories.

Until then, it’s farewell, but not goodbye.


Jewel's battling illness and grieving for her partner Keith at the same time. It feels overwhelming sometimes. She's grateful for the support of her two cats Ricky and Mokie (pictured.)