by ASHLEY MILLER
for the Sequim Gazette
Sequim resident Anne Erickson prides herself on being a logical woman.
So when her 5-year-old daughter Rose’s kitten disappeared seven years ago, Erickson wrote off the feisty fur-ball as good as gone.
To soothe her young daughter’s grief, the loving mother helped search relentlessly for the feline friend, watched her little girl cast spells to help bring Mr. Whiskers home safely and even stored a “magical potion” concoction of stuff from the bathroom cupboard and spice drawer safely on top of the refrigerator because it was to “help find kitty.”
Torn between thinking she should be honest with her child that the kitten probably had been eaten by coyotes and feeling that she should encourage her to keep praying for the pet’s safe return, Erickson granted her daughter’s wish and made “missing cat” fliers to hang from telephone poles and put in neighboring mailboxes.
To Erickson’s surprise — and relief — the fliers worked and the cat was safely returned a few weeks later, but not without a few surprises.
Unlike her mother, Rose wasn’t shocked at Mr. Whiskers’ return.
“I never gave up hope,” said the now 12-year-old Sequim Middle School student.
“I knew my kitten was out there.”
Read all about it
Recently, Erickson, a freelance writer and producer for the “Gardening With Ciscoe” field show and “Northwest Backroads” on KING 5, wrote a short story about the loss and return of Mr. Whiskers and how the experience taught her to have a little faith. On a whim, she submitted the story to the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series.
To her delight, the story was chosen and published in the “My Cat’s Life” edition April 12.
“I hadn’t had anything published in a while so I sent it off but I didn’t really expect anything to happen,” Erickson admitted. “I knew about the books and now I’m proud to say I’m published in one of them.”
To read the entire account of “The Miraculous Mr. Whiskers,” turn to Page 122 in the book, which features 101 memorable tales from cat-loving authors.
“Cat owners cannot get enough of the funny, feisty and sometimes remarkable stories featuring our furry friends,” Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, wrote in a recent press release.
“The stories will make you laugh, cry and recognize yourself and your pet as you enjoy heartwarming and inspiring stories of kitten antics, teenage rebellion, adapting to an aging cat and finally, having to say goodbye.”
The healing powers of ‘Chicken Soup’
Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, publishes all the latest titles in the famous “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series, which is distributed through Simon & Schuster, Inc. Since 1993, books in the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series have sold more than 112 million copies, with titles translated into more than 40 languages.
In 2007, USA Today named “Chicken Soup for the Soul” one of the five most memorable and influential books in the last quarter century.
The company plans to expand into all media, working with TV networks on several shows and developing a major Internet presence dedicated to life improvement, emotional support, inspiration and wellness.
For more information or to purchase a copy of “Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Cat’s Life,” go online to www.chickensoup.com.
