Continued Confusion

An addendum to my earlier post regarding confusion:

• Why is it that when I want to turn left out of Chill's parking lot, traffic is thick and spaced just so it is too dangerous to attempt the turn for several minutes, but when I want to turn right there is no one coming from either direction? While this happens at many intersections, also, it seems to be very consistent at this particular spot.
• Along with that, I believe there is a tear in the space-time continuum at the corner of 1st Street and University Avenue in Champaign, IL--but only in the right hand lane of the west-bound traffic. You know, right in front of the Cattle Bank. If you are stopped at that light, the left-hand lane always moves immediately when the light turns green and there is a significant lag (2-3 cars long) before the car at the beginning of the line in the right hand lane moves.
• As I mentioned on Lit's blog, why is it more fun to pull weeds from someone else's flower bed than it is it to tend my own?
• Why is it than when you have a quick task to accomplish at a red light (like sign a school permission slip or complete a bank deposit), all the lights in your path are green? And when you are in a hurry they are all red?
• Why is it when I get on the phone my child immediately has urgent questions to ask me in a loud voice--even if she was outside when I dialed the phone and could not have possibly heard me talking?

Just wondering...

Doctor Mom

All moms have the magic touch when a child is very small. A kiss can soothe so many boo-boos and you may end up touching your lips to a piece of your child's flesh that is way more dirty than you ever dreamed you would allow near you. Knees that have fallen on a sidewalk, fingers that have been smashed--even toes upon occasion. All are suspect if the child has been outside of the bath for more than a couple of minutes.

But as the child matures the magic seems to go away. A kiss soothes, but does not cure. Bandaids become important, especially if they bear the image of a favorite cartoon character. Our home has seen Barbie, Sponge Bob, Spiderman, Scooby Doo, Disney Princesses, Hello Kitty, and who knows who else. Oh wait, Spiderman actually lives at the shop with Chill. But he does share them with Oyster if the need arises.

As chilldren move into the pre-teen phase, the mother's magic evolves yet again. Now it is obvious that a child really is ill if the complaints come as they are readying for a long-anticipated activity. Complaints of vague stomach ailments as they dress for school are less reliable. Maybe they are important. Maybe they are a ploy to get to remain in bed for another hour and then get to watch TV for the day. Maybe. It is hard to tell.

And sometimes Moms get to return to the days when they could effect a cure for the all-important ailment that causes our children to whine. For example, I have noticed that Oyster's pains in her sides, back, and neck increase when she is eating healthy food and are not so prevalent when eating junk food. It seems obvious to me that this must indicate her body it too used to unhealthy eating and therefore absolutely must be reconditioned to her previous state of being used to eating healthy food. We do not need to invest in meeting the deductible on her insurance plan for this ailment. We just need to cut back on junk food until her body again accepts the healthy fare that is offered.

I believe I can actually hear the child healing.

Learning Curve

It seems to me that although many books indicate you can teach cats by judicious use of a spray bottle, it isn't working around this house. I am not a believer in the other books that say you can't teach cats, though. It is obvious the cats in this household know their names. They also know when it is time to eat and when it is time for me to go to bed. They know if they lay on their backs and waive their paws in the air someone will come by and scratch their bellies. They are teachable. They are just also very curious and determined--two traits that outweigh the other.

Directing a spray of water onto the top of feline noggins may make them run away from the task they were pursuing before being caught in the act, but it will not prevent them from returning to the activity. Especially later when you aren't around with the spray bottle.

Sometimes I find this irritating. Other times it is amusing. Many times it is frustrating. I guess that is one of the purposes of cats in our lives. They help us to experience and identify a large range of emotions.

As for the household pride, Cheddar is the most forgiving of all creatures on the face of the earth. No matter how many times I step on his tale, trip over him (and break two teeth in the process), or squirt him, he immediately comes back to let me know he loves me. Skids is the most tolerant, allowing Oyster to wallow him anywhere, anytime, anyhow. It would be hard to say who is the most playful. They each have their moments, but there is something special about watching Sammo chase his tail.

Sabrina stays on the fringes during the day, watching but not wanting to be touched. Once midnight hits, though, she is very vocal in her declaration that it is time for me to go to bed where she will deign to allow me to pet her. She likes to have me hold her tail--something I don't recall ever experiencing with another cat. As long as I have a loose grasp of her tail or a hand on her back or side, she is happy to purr and snuggle on or beside me.

Scooter sets a trap for the unwary, exposing his hourglass abdominal markings in a manner that makes one think that round tummy is ready for a rub. Once the hand makes contact the claws gently grasp the wrist and the teeth pretend to gnaw knuckles. He doesn't draw blood--most of the time.

Maggie is a purring machine. She is the least likely to make overt demands, just setting herself in a convenient spot for you to stop and pet her. And in her extremely optimistic way she begins purring loudly as soon as a person arrives on the scene, obviously sure of her irresistable allure. No need to wait until you reach out to pet her to express her satisfaction.

And that just leaves Daisy. I was determined to become her friend when I first joined this household. And it really didn't take too long for her to warm up to me--as much as she is capable of warming up to anyone other than Chill. She likes me to pet her. Some of the time. She purrs to show she appreciates the attention. Some of the time. Mostly she likes me to make the boys leave her alone. All of the time.

As for the learning curve. I think we learn as much from the critters as they do from us. Maybe they are more effective teachers.