This is the story of losing my marriage,

teaching exceptionally talented youth,

having a stroke,

struggling to walk again,

then finding new love with the arrival of

love-seeking Rescue animals and

a remarkable human in my life. 

His name is Dave.

 

Would you not love for the world to listen to the song “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen with the words symbolically fitting your life story? That is what I am blessed with…

 

It took years of teaching exceptionally-talented youth

and rescuing animals to see hope as a multi-faceted blessing.

 

I lose my marriage.

I have a stroke.

While struggling to walk once again,

I become empowered.

The tide is turning.

Then, a miracle of miracles,

a new yet old love

appears on my horizon.

His name is Dave and he just may well be

my true-life human Angel.

 

All this unravels as I watch a remarkable sunset each evening from my Crystal Lake Cottage.

Having had a stroke, and being surprised by Dave’s arrival at such a tough time begs us as humans to pause and reflect. Woven into this time period is my love for Annie, a most devoted dog along with all my cats.

 

In October 2007 Annie (a Rescue) comes to live with me. Annie then rescues me by being by my side when I have a stroke in February of 2008.  

My sister steps in.

IMG_0499.jpeg

She is my twin and a most lovely human! Her name is Glenda.

I walk three times a day every day to regain my strength while at her home. It takes an entire year, with my dog Annie by my side.

It is April in Florida as spring peeks into our lives and I get to return to my beloved Crystal Lake cottage in April of 2009. 

Dave calls and surprises me which leads to his arrival in my life and home.

I continue to rescue animals.

The first kitten is named Baby comes into my life and is loved by Annie-the-dog so much that she goes everywhere Annie goes.

(lost photos ~ Linda I need these sent again if possible) This is Annie riding with me in the golf cart every day. The top picture is Annie and Baby sleeping together.

 

Dave enters my life again on October 18, 2009

Baby arrives October 19, 2009

The cat next door has three litters of kittens which I rescue and keep before she is finally captured and spayed to stop the expansion of kittens.

Her name is Chloe. Chloe is a cat that lives next door as an outside pet. She stays on her patio yet she never lets anyone touch her. Chloe lives there until she disappears after ten years.

Baby,  Elvis,  Bunny,  Jesse, and Pippa are kittens from Chloe.

June Bug, Tassie,  and Mama Cat are female cats who just show up one day… and stay.  So…I take them to the vet and have them spayed. (These cats are not feral because they are far too tame.)

They were strays that decided to come to my home. How I don’t know, yet they were really sweet cats.

Roxy, Tanner, Satin, and Whiskers are male cats that somehow found their way to my lake cottage. I had them neutered so they are outdoor cats and show up for breakfast and supper every day. They are very sweet cats.

Precious was brought to me by the next-door neighbor ‘s daughter along with her three kittens.

I kept Precious and her three male kittens. I had her spayed and the three male kittens neutered. I gave two of the male kittens to good homes and kept one male kitten named Mitzi. He is the kitten on the right.

Peaches and her three kittens came from Lake City.

Sweetie had feline leukemia and died. 

Cutie Pie and Sassy were spayed along with their mother cat, Peaches. 

Cutie Pie and Sassy wearing PJs after they were spayed to protect their stitches.

Dianne Murphey:

Good morning dearest Linda & Dave ~ I love love love the stories  & photographs you sent. Having a blast looking & thinking & brainstorming writing ideas for your BIRTHDAY. Love you so, Di 🦋

Got it. Hooray! Heading out to get script…

davearoof@icloud.com:

It’s a framed print of a watercolor of Hemingway’s home in Key West.

I love the colors that are pretty and bright but yet muted by the watercolor. 

Dianne Murphey:

A good description of why you love it. 

 

I kept Precious and her three male kittens. I had her spayed and the three male kittens neutered. I gave two of the male kittens to good homes and kept one male kitten named Mitzi. He is the kitten on the right.

Author — Linda Fraser

Photography by Linda Fraser,

Dave Roof, & Fawn Rising

Crystal Lake Florida U.S.A.