This website is for the many customers, both returning and new who have requested it over the years. I’ve long wanted to share Ernest stories and now I’ve found a place. People ask us all day every day what can they do to feel better, or fix something or heal. There are so many places to start. But where? How? I realized long ago that it is difficult if not impossible to go from sad or depressed straight to happy. That’s when I started saying thank you. For years now I have been practicing gratitude. Now, I’m not very consistent at anything such as daily exercise or meditation or even doing the dishes, but some time ago, in order to deal with the changing times, the inconsistencies of finances and, well, life, I began to practice gratitude. Now I am grateful for EVERYTHING, even the hard stuff. Of course I want my business to expand and grow and prosper. Doubtless I wish for financial freedom, health and peace for my family, friends, special friends and customers. Obviously I want everyone to know love and true partnership and real support. So even when I’m cranky, I’m grateful. I’m grateful for what the day may bring and what the last day brought. I’m grateful I can laugh at myself. Practicing gratitude changed my life. It blesses my days and our store and the people who come in and out of the store.
Be thankful. Start small. I started with the store cats, Ernest the wonder cat and our dearly departed Lightning Bug. Not a moment, let alone a day goes by that I am not eternally thankful for them, even when Ernest decides to catch a nap on the rather pricey amethyst table.
I bless the day they came to live at the store and share their love and special gifts with everyone who enters. Dearest Lightning Bug, the calico, and sister to Ernest, succumbed to liver failure last year. She is missed in so many ways. Ernest is fine, shamelessly adorably fabulous in fact, having survived cancer himself, he is loved and adored by strangers and friends all day every day.
We all answer to Ernest.
I remember a special day with that cat. A seriously handicapped young man was wheeled into the store and left near the register as his family looked around. Ernest started sniffing his chair (he loves wheelchairs and baby strollers). I did not know the full extent of the man’s ailments, but he couldn’t really speak and his arms and hands were basically non-functional. I asked if he wanted to see the kitty, knowing most cats would be afraid of his jerky movements and twisted arms and hands. I picked up Ernest and set him down on the tray attached to the man’s wheelchair. The young man was overcome. Ernest let the man pet him and hold him and give him multiple drool-filled kisses. Ernest just sat there. He knew. I know he knew. He’s my miracle angel cat and he knew and the man’s mother knew and she and I were both weepy by the time it was over.
That was a long time ago. Ernest is so very spoiled these days and miraculous just the same. He is open and free and makes his belly available to all who seek its divine fluffness and magic and bums rides on or in anything with wheels.
Thank you and blessings for visiting mysticmerchantsolvang.com.
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