I saw my mother in a different light. We all need to do that. You have to be displaced from what's comfortable and routine, and then you get to see things with fresh eyes, with new eyes.
-- Amy Tan
It's a stretch to call my little family "normal" in the best of times, but here we all are, adjusting to our new weird. :) Going pretty well, all things considered, so far.
This week, I've been thinking about routines and habits and what happens when they get shifted.
I've been keeping a close eye on one of our cats, Lissa Tortilla. She's normally super food motivated but sometimes she "goes off her food". Sometimes we've been able to figure out why-ish, and sometimes not so much. This time, I think she's pining after M1. She'll eat, but only if I've been petting her and sitting with her... I've been calling it purr therapy. I think I under-estimated how much attention and how closely bonded M1 & Lissa Tortilla are/were. Lissa's lying over on her heated pet bed with one leg hanging out, ever so relaxed right now.
Yes, I know cats not eating is problematic for a lot of reasons, and because she does this we have a routine with the vet (and we've been this >< close to calling the vet and then she perks up again), but this too is becoming a routine that bears paying attention to. So watching and waiting, with plenty of chin and belly scritches and ear rubs and brushing and whatnot.
I think animals, and probably plants and mycelia, all have way more emotional lives than we give them credit for. I get not anthropomorphizing things (not that it stops me), but bonding and pining is bonding and pining...
Same too, walking down a hall towards a bedroom that used to home a person who is now having her own adventures. Who do I watch youtube with now!? Is just not the same watching them alone!
And some things are... slowly shifting. Maybe? Except that there's an M2 in the house who is now in high school and homework is still a thing so late nights are still a thing so that getting to bed earlier is... slower than maybe I anticipated, but then again, sneaking suspicion. I've never been a morning person... 🦉
With love and curiosity,
--Susan