​I moved to Canyon Lake two months early under quite unpleasant circumstances. The depression over the first couple of weeks was dense and difficult to escape. Looking out the windows of my RV at my surroundings, the gorgeous trees looking back at me, there was a certain sense of peace amidst the storm.
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For the first week solid, I had some of the worst nightmares I have ever had. Sleep eluded me as I writhed in the bed each night. As the days became easier, the nights did too. There came over me a serenity in knowing that everything was happening just as it was meant to. I won’t go into detail in how I knew, but the message was received loud and clear. “Go with the flow. The ancient battle is working itself out.”

​Maelen came to live with me on August 28, 2017. He was so tiny; I could hold him in the palm of my hand. I had always wanted a black cat for aesthetic purposes, and he fit the bill. At the time, I wasn’t exactly planning on another cat. I had two cats that meant a lot to me, and both had recently passed away so when my daughter’s boyfriend pulled this little black ball of fur out of his pocket one afternoon, I wasn’t exactly pleased.
 
It didn’t take long for Maelen to become my little buddy. Since there were so many dogs at my mom’s house, he opted to stay with me in the safety of my room. He was definitely a cool cat. Over time, I noticed him behaving like a dog, which I thought was hilarious. He took every opportunity he had to play with the puppies that came and went. I knew he was special and told him so all the time.