One of the things I find myself very grateful for are A the Cat and J the Rabbit.
We have a daily routine now. After I get up at 0500, I open the door where A the Cat it sitting outside, waiting for me. We go to the alternative bedroom - really The Rabbit's Room, who am I kidding - and open the cage for J the Rabbit, who will hop out and head to the living room, where she hop around for the better part of an hour until breakfast time.
The same sort of thing happens when I get home from work: A is standing at the door yowling for all he is worth when I come in. He gets fed, then J gets her dinner and open cage door where she can run around more or less until it is time for bed.
(J at her veterinary appointment yesterday for a check up and vaccination. She is in great health and the vet was very happy.)
Pets. We do not really deserve them.
Pets and (in my case anyway) livestock, (although the goats are more like pets than "stock." Chickens and Muscovies not so much. Tom Turkey definitely not a pet by his own choice.) Somehow they help ground us in the reality of the natural world. And that, I think, holds an important key to human mental balance.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with you Leigh. My relationship with them is obviously different than my relationship with people, but I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing. Our relationship with nature can and should be something different than how we relate to individuals.
DeleteLeigh makes a salient point with pets linking us to the natural world although so many people forget/ignore that they are part of that natural world. A the Cat seems a bit camera wary TB........:)
ReplyDeleteNylon12, One of the unfortunate outcomes of the scientific revolution And the philosophical and theological thinking that underpinned it is that we began to treat ourselves as different than nature instead of part of it. Pets are a way of grounding us back in that wider relationship.
DeleteWe haven't had a pet in a very long time, but posts like this make me think wistfully of having one again. But one of our sons will say something like, "You two need a cat!", to which I quickly reply, "No, no no. Your dad says no more pets!" in hopes they never entertain the idea to just gift us one. I appreciate the value pets add to our lives, TB, but I also like the freedom of not having a pet - at least for now. :)
ReplyDeleteBecki, the "freedom" aspect is real. It was not as much a thing when we lived in New Home and even when we went somewhere, we had one of our children or a family friend who could look after them. Currently we have a pet sitter who is very good (but obviously costs money) so that has to be factored into trips that are more than 1.5 days. I will say that especially now, I am very glad they are here.
DeleteI've never spent time with a rabbit when it wasn't absolutely terrified of me. I think it would be kind of interesting to watch one that wasn't scared.
ReplyDeleteEd, they are pretty entertaining creatures. J, when left to her own purposes and out, will sometimes tear around the house or just rest in places.
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