MARGUERITE’S WEBPAGE

A Year of Sundays is a travel tale and a love story. It’s a tale lightened by Marguerite’s resilience and deepened by the impact of her blindness on their relationship and their experiences. It’s about exploring Europe without sight and the kindness people everywhere show to Marguerite.

Marguerite is a Marriage and Family Therapist in Ventura, California. She and Ed have traveled extensively, including their year away with their 16-year-old cat, Felicia.

Between the ages of 16 and 40, Marguerite slowly lost her sight to retinitis pigmentosa. She has counseled many others who are losing, or have lost, their vision, including groups she and Ed have held for couples with one visually disabled partner.

Of her time in Europe with Ed and Felicia (the Queen of Traveling Cats), she says, "There were times when we missed our friends and the English language so much that we almost gave up, but Felicia was always there to comfort us. The people were so kind and open to me, and we found such bliss together so much of the time, just the three of us."

"Some sighted people come back from Europe with lots of pictures and visual images but not many memories to relate. Others travel with all their senses; they know that travel is about the whole experience, the people you meet most of all.

"In the first month of our adventure, Ed told me about all the buildings, the gardens and statues in Paris, but he really wanted to find sensations for me. We went to concerts, spice markets and flower markets… Most of the concerts were free, so was listening to the people speak their unique blend of languages and the scents of flowers, spices and cheeses. And of course there was the food, which was so varied and wonderful.

"My best experience in Paris was visiting the exhibit for the blind at the Musee D’Orsay. I loved feeling the statues, but it was the kindness of the people, who opened the exhibit on a day when it was closed, that really stands out in my memory."

Her favorite adventure during the year- "The monkey park in Holland. When we first sat down, we wondered if it would be a monkey no-show. Then we heard sounds up in the trees, hundreds of monkeys scurrying toward us making high-pitched monkey noises. They scampered around us, and I asked Ed to pick one up for me. There was no way he was about to grab one. Then one jumped on my lap to take food from me. He had such tiny, rubbery fingers. I was thrilled, and then another one jumped on my shoulder… Later, when the food ran out, the monkeys climbed back into the trees. They lost interest in the people, but Ed told me they were looking at my white cane. I put it against the tree, and two of them climbed onto it, like little tightrope walkers. I became the Pied Piper of the monkey park. The kids gathered around, all wanting to have the cane so they could be in charge of the monkeys…"

Of the trip as a whole, Marguerite says, "It was a journey that changed our lives, the best thing we ever did."

Click above to learn more about A Year of Sundays, Ed, Felicia or Ed’s Historical Novel, Toledo or check the links below. For links to other Cat Lover's websites and Budget Travel Resources, click the last two tabs above.

More from the PUBLISHER- VanderWyk and Burnham’s website, www.vandb.com/ayos

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING- Visit Amazon.com to read more or purchase.

Ed's Homepage- A Year of Sundays                 Page 2- About A YEAR OF SUNDAYS

Page 4- Felicia, Queen of Traveling Cats                Page 5- Ed's Historical Fiction

Page 6- Fun Cat Links                                             Page 7- Budget Travel Info.