I have been a card-carrying city girl my whole life.
That being said, I always had an affinity for anything with fuzz, feathers, fur and even scales. I love animals, and I incorporated them into my city-girl life because they brought me such joy, they needed me and I needed them. In Manhattan, we had five cats and three dogs. If the snobby co-op board had known, we would have surely been out on the street.
I thought I had the perfect combination of Green Acres in reverse.
That being said, I have never been a camping-in-a tent, hiking-up-a-mountain girl.
I don’t like being hot (especially these days) or uncomfortable by my own choosing, and bathing in a lake is my personal nightmare. Probably because when I was 16 I did just that and found myself eye to eye with a water snake. I literally walked on water, and haven’t put my toe in a pond since. Until the grizzly bear, but more on that later.
I’ve been through some great and been through some bad… and through it all, I’ve been blessed. In different incarnations of my life, I’ve lived in some of the most incredible cities in the world; New York City, Los Angeles, Rome, Italy and now, Las Vegas.
Do we see a pattern here? Big. City. Girl.
I had just moved to Las Vegas, bought my home, started producing my show, and intended to live there happily single for the rest of my life. Oh yes, this girlfriend had plans.
And then Todd came into my life.
Todd Fisher turned my life upside down, inside out, and right side up… in the best way possible.
Todd grew up a city boy (Beverly Hills) and 24 years ago, wound up moving to a remote city on the Central Coast of California. He built a beautiful ranch, and I mean, he built it with his own two hands. He was married to a wonderful girl, named Cristi.
During those same years, I lived in New York City, married to a wonderful person too. Acting my heart out on soaps and Broadway.
Then I started my cosmetics company. Big. City. Girl.
Five years ago, Todd lost Cristi to cancer while I was on the other side of the country, my marriage ending. After being married for 17 years, dating was not for me. I felt that there were too many emotional vampires walking around in "normal people" suits, wasting my time.
I took a year and a half off from it all, and found it a blissful experience to spend that time with myself. Being alone and spending time with only my closest friends gave me a chance to find out who I was, why I had attracted such odd experiences, and how utterly easy it was to change it and live a peaceful, non-chaotic life.
I ended up writing a book about it too, called "The 30 Day Heartbreak Cure."
On the last days of the sabbatical, Todd entered my sphere.
Worlds collided. Stars were crossed. Sparks were flying, and the angels sang…
I thought I was at my peak of happiness in Las Vegas, all on my own. I had no idea on Earth what I was missing. There really are decent people to be in a relationship with in this world. There really is someone for everyone. It’s all about where we are are in our head, and being in love with our own soul first.
When we are ready, we recognize and appreciate a good person when we see them, are not fooled by imposters, and we are able to receive the good with open arms.
When I met Todd, I was so solid with myself that I would not have given that peace up for anything less than who he is, and he is spectacular. The only thing was, we lived in different states.
Thank God they are only six hours apart.
Still, with me embarking on a new career in a new city, it took some finessing. I would not twist my life into a knotted pretzel for anyone who was not worth it. He is the best man I know, and as hard as it was in the first year, he has been worth all of it and much more.
After nearly three years together, we share our time between these two states, and several others when I'm touring or he is on location filming. There is no one else I would rather be with.
Happily, I have been officially stripped of my big city girl status. I walk barefoot through the literal clover, stare at the mountains like a fool, and watch the sunset with wonder and amazement every evening. I love my life, and I am so grateful for all it.
Without Todd, I would not be Buddy Boo’s mother.
Without Todd, I would have never fed a grizzly bear a Snickers… with my teeth.
Without Todd, I would have gone my whole life never knowing what real love is.
So if you are out there on your own, please know that I believe, (because I am living proof), that if you want it, real love waits for you too.
And if you don’t believe it, I will believe it enough for both of us until you do.
Get ready, the ball is in your court.
Love Always,
Cat XO
September 2012
13 comments
Cat you are the example for so many and you have set the bar very high. There are a lot of bad people out there in the world. But there are also a lot of very good ones too. It warms my heart whenever I see two people who have found each other to share love with in this great big world. Everyone seeing you can feel that love and it makes this world a better place. Thank you for being an inspiration of positive, loving light.
Cat we are so happy that you finally have found happiness. You deserve it you have been a person who has been kind to strangers, like at christmas at the unwed mothers shelter. You are the person that every women should look up to, a women who has gone against all odds and has succeed without nothing other that your faith and drive to make it. God Blees you Catherine
Darling Kitty,
First of all, you had SIX feline roommates in NYC—don’t forget Cheddar.
This month’s inspiration filled me to bursting heartbreak from all of the love you give in this often dark world. When our Creator gifted Earth with Catherine Hickland, He knew this was a woman who would light The way to real love for everyone she touches. If anyone deserves true love, it is you.