While even one post on the subject is too many, that we have to sit in shock, once again, mere months after the Sandy Hook shootings to watch our freedoms and the little joys of our lives be chipped away because some sickly individuals decide the value of life has no meaning to them, is insufferable. My step-children live in Boston and I never imagined a day where they would have to live in complete fear for their lives while police and military presence has become a commonplace sight to them, schools, businesses, and mass transit are closed, they are in “lock-down” mode, and my 14 year old step-daughter has to call her Dad and ask the unfathomable question, “Am I going to die?”

I can offer my sincerest condolences to the victims and their surviving friends and family and I can extend the simple wish that we all be kind to one another, which obviously I do. But what does the message even mean? I am so angry and I know that me telling everyone that life is too short and that we have to be kinder to one another is not falling on the ears that need to hear the message, let alone that they could even comprehend it if they heard it. My family, friends, and blogging acquaintances are not at their very core evil and I realize I am not preaching to the right choir.

But, as a compassionate and caring human being, putting my anger and disbelief aside, it’s all I have to offer and if we lose that, we lose everything. We have to treat each day as if it could be our last and we need to tell those people in our lives that are important to us how much we care about them as much as we can in any large or small way and as often as we can. I can’t let my anger and jaded perspective rule my life – I still need to have enough compassion, decency, and faith in mankind that I can be a considerate person who has the ability to tell a perfect stranger in line at the grocery store that I like their outfit because I know that simple act will give them a smile and brighten their day. It is so very tempting to crawl into a hole and push the whole world away, but I just don’t think that is the answer.

So, three weary and mentally exhausting paragraphs later, a post that was originally scheduled to suggest gift giving ideas for Mother’s Day in a bright, cheerful, and uplifting tone, will still be a post to suggest gift giving ideas for Mother’s Day, but the text is far more serious than I had anticipated. I was going to talk about what a great gift idea my book, The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey – A Journey of the Extraordinarily Ordinary, is to give to that special mom in your life (in whatever capacity that might mean for you personally) because the story is a warm, humorous, and inspirational account of the everyday moments of my life as shared through the mind’s eye perspective of my family of personable and quirky felines who readers will be sure to fall in love with and relate to on so many levels.

The book is filled with stunning photographs and custom artwork and is a love story between not only the feline stars of the book, Zee and Zoey, but a love story about the human-feline bond and how animals can inspire us to be better people. But why I really think this book is important, especially after the bombings, is because it is written in a style that is like having a conversation with a cherished friend who always makes you feel just a bit better about yourself after chatting with them. I think that is the greatest gift we can give one another now – sharing and spreading the message of love, hope, companionship, and remembering to appreciate the ordinary, everyday moments of our life, because in the scheme of things, that’s what it’s really about. Just think of the book as a heartfelt hug from you that will be cherished by your Mom for years to come.

The best part, as my gift to Mom’s everywhere, for every sale of the book through my www.zeezoey.com website, I will donate $10.00 of the proceeds to the new non-profit organization, Pawsitevly Humane, that Christine Michaels of Riverfront Cats founded and I am the Secretary of. We are diligent in our efforts to use education to teach people about pet responsibility to reduce the numbers of homeless animals on the streets and in shelters and will be doing an official site launch in the next couple of weeks with all kinds of fun giveaways in store, but in the meantime, I thought why not get the catnip ball rolling by helping out with desperately needed contributions! Also, every book bought through my site comes in a stunning gift wrap along with a complimentary bookmark and can be autographed for that wonderful mom in your life – I can’t make the gift giving any easier or more enticing!

If a book is not your cup of tea, there are also other ways to help Pawsitively Humane! If you shop through the link, Adopt a Shelter, a small portion of the proceeds will go to Pawsitively Humane and there is a variety of retailers to choose from like Amazon.com, Petsmart, Walmart, Old Navy, Target, Ebay, Overstock.com, Zazzle, and Sears. And it just so happens that I also have a great selection of items on Zazzle, so it’s a win for everyone!

I’m sorry for the heavy tone today, but I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the incident and how I felt by it. If nothing else, I’m always real and I just couldn’t let this go by without saying something. Blessings to you all and my sincerest appreciation for all of your support and for the friendships I have made throughout the years. You are all so very important to me.

When this post was written, one bombing suspect was dead and the other at large. Since then, the second suspect has been apprehended and I am grateful that this dreadful ordeal has come to this part of its conclusion so that people may begin to heal as best as possible. Thank you to all law enforcement involved for their hard work and dedication to the cause.