You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘T. J. Banks’ tag.
Dawnie
This month’s Catnip Connection is a four year anniversary tribute to Dawnie who passed over to Rainbow Bridge on January 29, 2013. I got acquainted with Dawnie in the award-winning Catsong book written by my friend T. J. Banks. Dawnie and T. J.’s lives mirrored one another as conveyed in this passage: “We’ve both experienced motherhood, love and loss and struggled our way through that last one. When she comes to me now and walks over my work, demanding a head-scritch, or snuggles under the blankets next to me, purring, I can’t help smiling to myself, no matter what kind of day it has been.”
My experience is some animal bonds are formed deep and strong and touch each other’s soul. T. J. echoes this feeling in Catsong: “Chemistry–kindred spirits, soul mates, call it what you will–is a funny thing. There’s no dictating it. Somehow two souls knit together and stay knitted together, no matter what. Even death cannot undo those ethereal skeins.” I believe she developed such a bond with Dawnie. I love how she recently described their relationship as “titanium steel strong”.
Tribute to Dawnie
By Linda A. Mohr
You were my heart
A titanium steel strong soul connection.
You were my Dawnreader, my Dawnstar
My beautiful red Abyssinian.
Twelve and a half years
You graced the circle of my life.
Four thousand five hundred sixty-two days
Blessed scritch and snuggle time.
You taught me about heart matters,
How to take heart and
How to endure my heart
Being broken wide open.
You taught me to trust in time
Good things can root in a broken heart
Like hope, faith and joy.
Especially joy.
My dear Dawnreader
Forever in my heart
Forever my joyful connection
Forever more, my Dawnstar.
Credits
Dawnie’s portrait by artist Sally Logue
Catsong by T. J. Banks, stanzas three and four adaptation
Warm Purrs!
Gratitude is the heart’s memory.
—French Proverb
On October 29, 2007 Tatianna—Tales and Teachings of My Feline Friend was published. I want to thank all my readers and followers for their support, recommendations, reviews, and referrals the past seven years. Many specialty shops have kindly carried the book. I appreciate the bloggers and radio personalities who have interviewed me and the libraries who have allowed me to speak. Tatianna is honored to have a chapter in Candida Baker’s anthology The Amazing Life of Cats, and to be included on Look Inside on Amazon.
I am deeply grateful to Ingrid King for Conscious Cat interview and to T.J. Banks for Sketch People story. Ingrid’s book Buckley’s Story and T.J.’s book Catsong were winners of Merial Human-Animal Bond Award in 2009 and 2007 respectively. The Tatianna book won the award in 2008. This award is judged on the entry that best reflects and promotes the strengthening of the human-animal bond, highlighting the bond between a cat and owner, as well as their relationship with their veterinarian as another direct caregiver.
Ingrid King & Linda Mohr, Cat Writers’ Conference 2009
Tatianna continues to work her magic as evidenced by your support and generosity. As stated on Tatianna’s jacket cover, “I feel connected to the faithful Tatianna who has never left my side—she is simply in another dimension.” I can’t wait to see what the next seven years have in store. It’s bound to be good! Thank you.
Blessings!
Dawnie
This Catnip Connection is a tribute to Dawnie who passed over to Rainbow Bridge on January 29, 2013. I got acquainted with Dawnie in the award-winning Catsong book written by my friend T. J. Banks. Dawnie and T. J.’s lives mirrored one another as conveyed in this passage: “We’ve both experienced motherhood, love and loss and struggled our way through that last one. When she comes to me now and walks over my work, demanding a head-scritch, or snuggles under the blankets next to me, purring, I can’t help smiling to myself, no matter what kind of day it has been.”
My experience is some animal bonds are formed deep and strong and touch each other’s soul. T. J. echoes this feeling in Catsong: “Chemistry–kindred spirits, soul mates, call it what you will–is a funny thing. There’s no dictating it. Somehow two souls knit together and stay knitted together, no matter what. Even death cannot undo those ethereal skeins.” I believe she developed such a bond with Dawnie. I love how she recently described their relationship as “titanium steel strong”.
Tribute to Dawnie
By Linda A. Mohr
You were my heart
A titanium steel strong soul connection.
You were my Dawnreader, my Dawnstar
My beautiful red Abyssinian.
Twelve and a half years
You graced the circle of my life.
Four thousand five hundred sixty-two days
Blessed scritch and snuggle time.
You taught me about heart matters,
How to take heart and
How to endure my heart
Being broken wide open.
You taught me to trust in time
Good things can root in a broken heart
Like hope, faith and joy.
Especially joy.
My dear Dawnreader
Forever in my heart
Forever my joyful connection
Forever more, my Dawnstar.
Credits
Dawnie’s portrait by artist Sally Logue
Catsong by T. J. Banks, stanzas three and four adaptation
Warm Purrs!
Linda Mohr's Blog 