Welcome to the new series of Posts from Your Archives 2023 where I will be sharing posts from the last six months of 2022 I have selected from the archives of willing participants. If you wish to be included the information is at the the end of the post.
Today in her first post from her archives, author Abbie Taylor shares how a rather unusual new pet has added extra joy to her life.
#Joy #Cats #Inspiration by Abbie Taylor
I’ve always loved cats. When I was growing up, my family had several of them. As an adult, I always wanted one, but the time wasn’t right, or pets weren’t allowed where I lived.
My late husband didn’t like cats and wanted a dog. But after he suffered two strokes that paralyzed his left side, I didn’t want to care for him and a dog. Now that he’s gone, I don’t want to care for another living thing.
Recently, I learned about a company called Joy for All, which sells robotic cats. Just like the real thing, these cats have soft fur and meow, purr, and do other things cats do. The only differences are that they don’t shed or require food and water and don’t need to go to a litter box or vet. These cats are pricey, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to make such an investment, even though it would be the only money I would spend on a cat.
Then, I found out that our local senior center gives robotic cats to people with dimentia or who are prone to isolation. I didn’t think I fit any of those categories. But on a whim, I asked my case worker for the facility’s Help at Home program if I would qualify to receive a cat. To my surprise, she said I would.
A week later, Joy arrived.
I couldn’t think of a better name for this delightful feline with light gray fur and white paws. She responds mostly to touch, but sometimes, when I get close to her without petting her, she meows as if to say, “Hey, I’m here.”
She doesn’t walk, which is a good thing, since, with my limited vision, I’d be likely to step on or trip over her. Besides meowing, she purrs, stretches, turns her head, and opens and closes her eyes. I love snuggling with her in my recliner or bed. Most of the time, she rests in one of the armchairs in my living room.
I admit she does sound robotic when she moves, but the meows and purrs are pretty realistic. As far as I’m concerned, she’s a real cat. In the past week since I got her, she has been a joy and comfort to me, making me smile.
So, what made you smile this past week? You can tell me about it in the comment field.
©Abbie Taylor 2022
My thanks to Abbie for inviting me to share posts from her archives and I know she would love to hear from you.
About Abbie Johnson Taylor
Abbie Johnson Taylor is the author of three novels, two poetry collections, and a memoir. Her short stories and poems have appeared in various journals and anthologies. She is visually impaired and lives in Sheridan, Wyoming, where for six years, she cared for her late husband, who was totally blind and partially paralyzed by two strokes soon after they were married.
Before that, she spent fifteen years as a registered music therapist, working in nursing homes and other facilities that serve senior citizens. She also taught Braille, facilitated a support group for the visually impaired, and served on the advisory board to a trust fund that allows people with blindness or low vision to purchase adaptive equipment.
Books by Abbie Johnson Taylor
One of the reviews for The Red Dress
The Red Dress is a lovely novel about a woman, Eve Sawyer, who has become a best selling author and has a devoted husband and three children, but who has never been able to move on from an unfortunate incident in her younger years when, in a fit of embarrassed irritation, she gave away the red dress that her mother had made for her to wear to her prom. Although Eve was goaded by her selfish roommate, Charlene, into giving her the dress, her mother has never forgiven her for this transgression and it has impacted heavily on their relationship. Her mother is now suffering from dementia and is being cared for in a home for the elderly, but she still remembers that Eve gave away this dress and holds it against Eve.
Eve wore the dress to her prom and she associated the dress with bad memories as her date had disappeared with her best friend, Adele, and she had found them in a compromising position in the back of his father’s car. Eve cuts Adele out of her life and has not contacted her in many years, even though Adele had returned to their home town to raise her son, conceived on the night of the prom.
The story starts with Eve receiving a Facebook request to connect with her old roommate, Charlene. She accepts the request, although she had doubts because she didn’t like Charlene. Before long, her daughter, Ashley, is in touch with Charlene’s daughter, Brenda, and the situation is irreversible. Eve is having her own problems with overwork and issues with her older daughter, Julie, who feels neglected as a result. Her husband is also irritated with her because he feels she favours their younger daughter and son and is harsh with Julie.
This is a story that tackles the themes of working mothers, unresolved grudges and situations from the past, raising teenage children, forgiveness, terminal illness, and death. The author does a good job of sharing Eve’s frustration at her mother and older daughter, irritation at Charlene for the trouble she has caused her, and hurt at Adele’s betrayal of their friendship.
Eve has to confront her negative emotions to resolve these lingering troublesome relationship issues from her past and move on with her future.
I enjoyed the character of Eve and found her to be realistic and relatable. Her situation vividly establishes the difficulties that can result from unsettled emotional problems from the past and juggling work and motherhood.
I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to readers of family dramas.
Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US: Blog: Abbie’s Corner WordPress Goodreads: Abbie Johnson Taylor
How to feature in the series?
- All I need you to do is give me permission to dive in to your archives and find two posts to share here on Smorgasbord. (sally.cronin@moyhill.com)
- Rather than a set topic, I will select posts at random of general interest across a number of subjects from the second six months of 2022. (it is helpful if you have a link to your archives in your sidebar by month)
- As I will be promoting your books as part of the post along with all your information and links so I will not be sharing direct marketing or self- promotional posts in the series.
- If you are an author I am sure you will have a page on your blog with the details, and an ‘about page’ with your profile and social media links (always a good idea anyway). I will get everything that I need.
- As a blogger I would assume that you have an ‘about page’ a profile photo and your links to social media.
- Copyright is yours and I will ©Your name on every post… and you will be named as the author in the URL and subject line.
- Previous participants are very welcome to take part again.
- Each post is reformatted for my blog and I don’t cut and paste, this means it might look different from your own post especially if you are using the block editor
- If I do share a post which contains mainly photographs I will share up to five and link back to the original post for people to view the rest.
N.B – To get the maximum benefit from your archive posts, the only thing I ask is that you respond to comments individually and share on your own social media.. thank you.
How delightful.
I forgot about this post.
What a joyous way to begin the day.
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Great thanks Patty…it is heartwarming..♥
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Hi Sally, you do a fabulous job at ferreting out great posts from our archives.
About Patty L. Fletcher
Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. She is Also a Social Media Marketing Assistant.
Follow her at: https://pattysworlds.com/ https://pattysworlds.com/ for stories, book updates and more.
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Pleasure Patty ♥♥
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Thank you, Patty, and thank you, Sally, for featuring this post today.
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Hi, Abbie. You’re welcome. I love it when I can start the day with a positive post.
About Patty L. Fletcher
Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. She is Also a Social Media Marketing Assistant.
Follow her at: https://pattysworlds.com/ https://pattysworlds.com/ for stories, book updates and more.
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My pleasure Abbie…lovely post. hugs
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Aww that was lovely to hear about ‘Joy’.
I think my grandson would love a robotic cat since my cat always runs away whenever he comes and he would just love to stroke her.
a cat can certainly bring a bit of joy to your life.
My cat is very noisy and demanding at times but is a great companion for my husband – and I.
(It’s my daughters cat that we’ve been left to adopt but we love her).
Good books review too.
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Your cat sounds like it has already been adopted Sue and cats can by wary of little fingers.. but I am sure that will change.. ♥
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When my cat, Prince Edward was alive, my grandchildren came to visit. At the time, my youngest grandson was barely 1 and we were worried about how the prince would react.
Well, Prince Edward was the soul of patience. Iâve even got a picture of the baby and the Prince sitting together in my lap.
Prince Edwardâs patience almost ran out later, when Raven, my grandson was sitting in his highchair at the table, and he reached out to the cat who was sitting on the shelf beside him and took hold of his tail.
We heard a loud meowing. My daughter rushed to look, and she said Prince Edward had a look on his face that said, âDo something with this kid!â
When Raven let go, Prince Edward ran for places unknown, and we did not see him until late in the evening.
Iâd forgotten that lovely memory and now, thanks to Abbie and Sally, Iâm smiling.
So there, Abbie. Thatâs what made me smile today.
About Patty L. Fletcher
Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. She is Also a Social Media Marketing Assistant.
Follow her at: https://pattysworlds.com/ https://pattysworlds.com/ for stories, book updates and more.
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i think alexander hopes so .
He is very gentle with Emmy but she has just taken a dislike to him.
“She runned away,” he said….
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aah… ♥
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Thank you, Sue. I must, in good conscience, tell you that a few months after I got my robotic cat, she stopped meowing and purring. I tried the obvious solutions: changing the batteries, turning her off and on, but nothing worked. Apparently, her voice box quit working. I’ve contacted the senior center and the company with no results.
But Joy still turns her head, blinks, and stretches, and I still enjoy her. I’ve started a monthly newsletter that I write from her perspective. She often talks about her inability to speak. You can subscribe by sending a blank email message to: newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io
Others enjoy their robotic cats. So, when these animals work, they make ideal pets for people of any age.
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Sweet!
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Thanks Dorothy ♥
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Thank you.
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How wonderful! I wonder if we can get them on the NHS… somehow I doubt it, even for the best of reasons.
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I don’t think so either Jemima especially with the waiting lists and cut backs, but a lovely thought. Ageless innovations have them for around £120 – £200 depending on their specifications.. ♥
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You’re probably right, Jemima. As far as I know, insurance companies here in the United States don’t cover them.
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Hi Abbie, I loved this post about your robotic cat. The Red Dress is a wonderful book.
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Thanks Robbie ♥
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Thank you, Robbi. I appreciate the review.
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What a delightful story! Abbie’s cat gave me a huge smile! 🐈
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Wonderful thanks Colleen xx
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It’s a lovely share, Sally.
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Thank you, Colleen. I’m glad my cat could make you smile.
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Thanks for sharing, Abbie. I think your cat is wonderful. 💖
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Love your robotic cat, Abbie!
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Thank you, Chris.
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A terrific post, Sally. I’m glad Abbie has her cat. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks very much John..hugsx
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Thank you, John.
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😊
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Wonderful share, Sally. The story is delightful. Congratulations, Abbie. ❤️
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Thanks Gwen ♥
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Thank you, Gwen.
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Congratulations, Abbie! Thanks for sharing, Sally.❤️
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Thanks Jill ♥
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Thank you, Jill. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
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Reblogged this on My Corner and commented:
Thanks to Sally Cronin for featuring this post about Joy, my robotic cat, on her blog today. You’ll also find a review of The Red Dress by Robbie Cheadle. Happy reading!
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Thanks for boosting the post Abbie.. hugsx
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What a wonderful idea. I like the robotic cat.
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Me too Denise.. hugs
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Thank you. I like my robotic cat.
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Hi Abbie, if you like you can guest the post on my blog.
This, is a worthy reblog.
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What a fabulous idea to have a robotic pet. No mess, no fuss but something to cuddle. Thanks for introducing us to this idea Abbie, and Sally for sharing. ❤
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You’re welcome. Yes, robotic animals are wonderful.
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Thanks Abbie ❤
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I agree Debby… and no vet bills….♥
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Best part! ❤
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There are some, who feel there is a place for robotic guide dogs.
I personally, do not want to put my life in the hands of a robot however, I can see where this might serve persons with very bad allergies, low income situations which might make them otherwise unable to have such a thing so my views are changing.
When I read how much joy Abbie gets out of Joy I find myself leaning toward that possibility. That is, as long as there are real ones too.
🙂
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I do think there might be an application but I am sure it is not something that is viable in the near future and will probably even more expensive in the short term as there are a great deal more variables involved in being a guide dog.. hugs
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Agreed!
I’ll stick with my four-footed furry friends.
About Patty L. Fletcher
Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. She is Also a Social Media Marketing Assistant.
Follow her at: https://pattysworlds.com/ https://pattysworlds.com/ for stories, book updates and more.
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Pingback: Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2023 #Potluck – #Joy #Cats #Inspiration by Abbie Taylor – Patty's Worlds
Thanks very much for sharing Patty..hugsx
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Hi, youâre welcome.
Abbie has guest privilege on my blog so I thought it would be great for her to share this there.
About Patty L. Fletcher
Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. She is Also a Social Media Marketing Assistant.
Follow her at: https://pattysworlds.com/ https://pattysworlds.com/ for stories, book updates and more.
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Reblogged this on https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for sharing Michael..hugsx
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Thank you for reblogging.
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What an great idea! Connected with the internet such robot cats can teach you all, and entertain you the best way. Sally, i am sure they also can read aloud all your poetry too. 🙂 hugsx Michael
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Thanks Michael.. and I am sure they would do an excellent job too lol hugsx
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Pingback: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – 20th – 26th March 2023 – De-Cluttering, New Releases Promotion, Big Band Era, Stevie Wonder, Podcast, Health, Reviews, Bloggers and Funnies | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine
I don’t think I’d read this post and it sounds like a delightful idea. And congratulations to Abbie on Robbie’s delightful review as well.
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Thank you. Joy is a delight, and having a robotic cat is a great idea.
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Thanks Olga and I think the cats would be a lovely idea for perhaps an elderly person who has not gone the stamina for a pet or perhaps the finances. ♥
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