The best things in life aren't planned. They just happen, surprising and delighting us in the process.

Kira Kat's 15 years with me were like that.

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the excruciating decision of whether to have Kira Kat put to sleep as her health failed. Thank you to the many readers who complimented that column and, especially, to my neighbor Donna Werley of Danielsville, who told me about a vet who will come to the house for euthanasia. As a result, Kira Kat was put to sleep Jan. 26 in our living room. I am grateful her last experiences were at her lifelong home, not in a car or a carrier.

Last winter, a beautiful longhaired calico cat managed to get into our garage during the cold weeks in late February. I fed her but before I could catch her to have her spayed and vaccinated, our outdoor cat ran her off. I never saw her again and often wondered what happened to her.

Donna and I had been corresponding about cats in general and she told me about a cat who showed up at her place in early March of last year. She already had several cats and felt this one would be better off in a home with someone who could give her more attention. She sent me photos.

I sent Donna a photo of the calico that I had taken when she was outside my house. We compared markings. It was definitely the same cat!

After all this time, this cat found her way back to me. It seemed we were destined to be together. And so I adopted her.

While this was going on, another unplanned event surprised and delighted me. A friend sent me an ad for a reporter covering Downeast, Maine, for the Bangor Daily News. I wasn't looking for another job. But, we've always wanted to move to Maine and our cabin happens to be in the perfect spot – Downeast, Maine.

It was just too perfect not to apply. Even my husband, Sean, who prefers orderliness without surprises, agreed I should apply.

A short time later, I had a phone interview. I immediately hit it off with two editors with whom I would be working. We scheduled an in-person interview for a week I had already planned to take off and visit Maine. That interview went equally well. One of the editors even commented that I had been smiling the entire time I was there.

They made an offer on the spot. I told them my preliminary answer was yes, but what about Sean's job?

Sean works for Grantek Systems Integration, a progressive and forward thinking company. I knew when I applied that several Grantek employees worked remotely from their homes, some even in other states. A possibility existed Sean could get the same deal. To make a long story short, he did. Sean and I are moving to Maine!

I start March 9 at the Bangor Daily News. I admit I am looking forward to it more than I ever expected I would look forward to another job.

I have truly enjoyed my four years as editor of the Whitehall-Coplay Press, Northampton Press and Catasauqua Press and my time before that as an editorial assistant and freelance writer/photographer. I have met many wonderful people, seen the work of many outstanding organizations and truly felt like a part of this community. Thank you to everyone who made that possible.

Thanks, especially to Donna, who helped our calico cat come home, not only to us, but also to the state with which Sean and I have had a bond almost all our adult lives. This has all been a delightful surprise, one of the best life has to offer.

Johanna S. Billings

editor

Whitehall-Coplay Press

Northampton Press

Catasauqua Press