It feels as though I’ve lived a dozen lives—perhaps even more than the nine a cat is said to have. Each life has been its own adventure, with highs and lows, and each has imparted its own set of lessons. Some lessons I stubbornly ignored for a long time, while others were so glaring they could not be overlooked. I've come to realize that life is fleeting, and I’ve spent too much time entangled in conflicts that weren’t mine to fight. Having emerged battered but renewed, I now understand the importance of heeding the call that I can no longer ignore. I’m ready to embrace a new beginning, here, in a place where she might someday come looking for me.