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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JUNE 2021 39 Writers' Club If you're like me, you're a retiree, a spouse, a parent, a grandparent, a pet owner, or some combination of the above. Your grandkids probably have a plenitude of extracurricular activities you need to attend, your dwelling keeps magically accumulating dirt and dust, and your assorted family and friends command a goodly part of your days. Then there's always the more mundane distractions wasting your time: holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, TV, and movies. Oh, and throw in time for sleeping, eating and exercising. What to do? What to do? So, what do you do with those 20 minutes of free time each day? You write, of course! Why? Because you have to! You know the odds of becoming a full- time, highly-acclaimed, well-known, multi- millionaire writer are probably not in your favor, but you carry on. You will never achieve the sheer volume of an Asimov, or the instant guaranteed success of a King, or the cult following of a Tolkien. So why do you really write? Because you have inside you a tale that needs to be told, a story that is unique to you and you alone, or a play on words for others to ponder. And these inner musings are specific to you. No one else on the face of the Earth has access to them… unless you let them out. Would you like to make that lucrative book deal? Or see your story on the big screen? Absolutely! Hell, even a straight-to-DVD movie would be nice. But what's the reality? Maybe a dozen or so paperbacks floating around among friends and family? A handful of three-ring binders with your collections of words? Not quite so marvelous, but still well worth it. Now, let me ask you one very important question. I want you to be absolutely, painfully honest. If you could look into the future and discover that not one word you sweated and agonized over would ever be bought or published, would you still write? Would you still spend your precious time creating worlds and characters and visions from the random firings of neurons in your brain? Really? You're sure? Then join the club. You're a writer. ~ Jeffrey J. Hoy We meet the second Tuesday of the month at 1 pm. Contact andreazehner20@gmail. com for further details. ~ Andrea Zehner We are truly fortunate to have a great pet group here at Four Seasons known as Tails and Trails. If your pet is lost or goes missing, our Pet Recovery team can assist in getting your pet back home. Just call (951) 663-7012. Our Pet Recovery team is made up of volunteers who are willing to assist all fellow pet owners here. These volunteers have been trained in trapping, bringing lost pets to safety, scanning for microchips, and reuniting pets with their owners. Our team is currently seeking new members to assist us in these very worthwhile efforts. If you are interested in becoming a part of this team and being trained in pet recovery, please contact us at (951) 663-7012 or via email at vivr@sbcglobal.net. Note your name and phone number. Meanwhile, here are some tips if your pet goes missing. Do not chase or try to look for your pet. Stay home, secure any other pets, open your doors and your gate, and report the missing pet. We will do all we can to assist you. For both cats and dogs, find some dirty laundry, pillowcases, undergarments, gym clothes, socks or recently worn shoes and place it in a pile or a basket on your front porch. For cats, put out their used litter box. If your pet has a favorite bed or blanket, add that to the pile. Tails & Trails will help network your lost pet while we search, and we will provide recommendations for bringing your pet home safely. Spreading your scent around, while looking for your pet, will only confuse their attempts to "scent" their way home. Very few stray dogs are likely to run up to you, especially if you don't have food. Some may be very friendly and willing to jump into your vehicle. Never approach or chase a stray. This may drive them further from their home, stress them, and make recovery more difficult. Pets may become exhausted or hide. Try to keep dogs as close as possible to you. Speak in soothing tones. Be still and encourage them to come to you. If you do have food with you, you can always drop a few pieces to keep the animal engaged. There may be times when we will not have adequate volunteers to assist. If that is the case, we may ask you to contact Beaumont Animal Control at (951) 759-8500. ~ Vivian Walker, vivr@sbcglobal.net Tails & Trails - All Pets The Tribulations of Being a Part-time Writer or Oh, the Things I Have to Waste My Time on When I'm Not Hunched Over My Keyboard!

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