Life Changes
I’ve always found it interesting how we change as we go
through life – without really trying. We
change in response to trials and tribulations, to good times, to jobs and
friends and family and more.
The people who are around us change, too, in two ways. The people who are around us and remain
around us change in response to our changes, as we do in response to
theirs. In addition, the people who are
around us change – some stay, and some go, because the dynamic between you no
longer fits. That’s ok.
This has been on my mind a lot lately because of my old girl,
Dusty. (If you haven’t yet “met” Dusty,
go check out “Welcome,
and Introduction to Pets” where she’s introduced)
When Dusty came to me as a 6-week old kitten, she already
had a well-developed personality. She
was smart and secretive, independent, a great hunter, and occasionally
playful. Earning her trust was work, but
I did it.
As she matured, she claimed her place as the unofficial head
of our household. She led us on walks
down the lake road, running ahead to check that all was safe, and then returning
to shepherd us along the route she’d determined was acceptable. She let us know when it was time to turn
around about a kilometre later, and repeated the process on our return route,
to guide us safely back
She supervised her brother, Talcum, and spent weeks
searching for him when he went missing years ago, dragging me along to “interpret”
for other humans. When we acquired a
couple of younger boy-cats, she mothered them, washing their faces before
dinner, and chastising them when she felt their behaviour was inappropriate.
As she aged, Dusty started to ignore other cats and seek out
her human family – or at least, me – a little more, looking for snuggles, or
just a nap on a corner of the bed. She
didn’t dislike other cats so much as she no longer related to them.
Right now, her primary objective in any given day is to
spend as much time as possible sleeping on me.
Required conditions include me in my recliner, feet up, blanket on, with
limited disruption. She’ll stay that way
for hours till I stiffen up and have to move her to get coffee or wine/take a
bio break/something else. With all her
changes, we’re grateful for every moment with have with our confused, squawky
girl. Yes, she’s annoying sometimes
(particularly when you’re in the kitchen and she’s convinced that breakfast #7
is needed urgently).
But we’re her people, and I know we’re the right people for
her, and she’s the right girl for us. In
the words of Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) “The people who mind don’t matter, and
the people who matter don’t mind.” We
don’t mind that much.
Today’s lesson? (in
my words) If the important things
matter, don’t mind the rest.
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