Attitude is....Something

		Thursday, 02 September 10 - 07:06 AM (GMT -06:00) By Susie Randle in Perspective

I needed to write a note yesterday, and I picked up a pad of sticky notes I was given at a meeting a few years ago.  Printed on the note is the slogan, "Attitude is Everything."  Now isn't that just an egotistical little bumper sticker of a thought?  Attitudes are really habits of thinking about ourselves and our relationship to everything in the world.  My thoughts are smaller than the tiniest pin head in relation to the universe.  Certainly my thoughts are not everything, but I will grant that they are something.

Following are some of my miniscule thoughts about attitude.  Granted, I am not a behavioral scientist, just someone who likes to ponder and observe.

People form attitudes--thinking habits--at a very early age.  They may modify their attitudes throughout their life, but they don't really change them.  Changing your attitude is like using frosting to cover up a hole in a cake.  It looks better to the rest of the world, but the hole is still there, and you are still very much aware that it is there.

The most likely cause of modification in a person's attitude is a traumatic experience.  Simply exerting your will, in the absence of an external trigger, is the least effective way to modify your attitude.

For instance, at an early age, I developed the attitude that other people were not to be trusted.  My attitude was the direct result of quite a few major and minor traumas I suffered as a child.  To this day, I continue to view most people as untrustworthy--I simply am not a trusting person.  While that may not suit others, this attitude has proven to be a good survival tool.  And I do modify it toward specific people who, over time, prove to be at least fairly trustworthy.  At certain times in my life, I have tried to modify my attitude of distrust, but the change in attitude never lasts.  The world and other people tend to slap the change right out of me.  

Life can be like that.  And the thing about attitudes is they are tools for living. 

People are the most adaptable of animals.  Although we may not be able to drastically change our attitudes, we are quite capable of making our existing attitudes work for us--turning them into useful tools.

Some folks look down on people who have, in their judgment, a "negative attitude."  Shows how hypocritical people are, because the habit of judging others negatively stems from a negative, critical attitude. I have never met a person who had no negative attitudes about anything.  I'm afraid such a person would have to be stark, raving mad or a total simpleton.

Realistically, we should be thankful for some things about negative attitudes.  If no one ever complained, if no one ever criticized anything, no one would ever think to change or improve anything.  We probably would still be sitting in caves, carving spearheads out of rock. 

Negative attitudes are the squeaky wheels that call problems to our attention.  While a person with a persistently negative attitude may be difficult to be around, I have found it can be very effective if--instead of nagging someone about their attitude--I nudge them toward doing something themselves to improve the situation.   

Philosophy, science, and even some religions teach that everything is connected to everything else.  One person's thoughts, comments, or reactions may cause me to focus on my own thoughts, comments, and reactions. 

Sometimes people, even people I am very close to, exhibit attitudes that are shocking and mystifying to me.  Perhaps if I could truly walk a few miles in their shoes, I would understand.  At any rate, I can at least acknowledge their right to a particular attitude.

  BOGIE:  Cattitude rocks!  We hold only positive thoughts about ourselves, and our relationship to people is strictly master --> servant.  I bet you can guess which is which.

  BACALL:  My thoughts are not miniscule, Mama.  I only wish you could grasp the magnitude of my thoughts with your puny human brain.  Right now I am thinking that it is time for a cat crunchy.  That's one thought I will share with you.

What Do You Expect?

		Wednesday, 01 September 10 - 07:08 AM (GMT -06:00) By Susie Randle in Life

Expectations are insidious things.  People's lives seldom go the way they expect them to.  And certainly people seldom behave as you would expect. 

Some people say you should have no expectations at all.  I don't quite agree with that.  I believe there are reasonable standards of conduct.  The trick is realizing you can only hope to live up to these standards yourself--you can not expect them from anyone else.

I can really get into trouble when I expect:

• adult people to behave like adults;
• people to whom I have given years of loyal, above-and-beyond efforts to show me a modicum of consideration;
• people to be responsible--or if this simply is not in their behavioral repertoire, at least to cooperate with those who are behaving responsibly;
• everyone to be able to follow simple instructions and procedures; and/or
• people to behave like people, not animals--animals do whatever they please without regard to anyone else, and somehow I keep expecting people to have some ability to curb themselves.

I will be 61 years old next month.  I have never expected wisdom to come with age--I have known too many unwise older people to harbor that delusion.  But I do have the benefit of many years of experience.  I have been working, part- or full-time, since I was 17 years old.  I have lived in many areas of the country and surrounded by many different cultures.  I attended college for 2+ years and did very well there.  (The only stupid thing I did was dropping out to get married the first time around.)  What I am getting at is that I am neither stupid, inflexible, nor inexperienced in living.  And yet I keep letting myself be disappointed because I go on expecting so much better from people than what I usually get from them.

It's probably a very good thing I did NOT have children, because from what I have seen in other people's families, you can seldom expect decent behavior from them--especially during their teenage years.  But, hey, I have quite a few adults in my life who are suffering from Peter Pan Syndrome, so if I want to see childish behavior, I can just look at them. 

I often disappoint myself by not behaving in accordance with my own standards and values.  Why should I expect anyone else to do better?  I will keep on trying to live up to the expectations I have for myself.  I am my own business.  Other people are not my business.  Maybe by the time my NEXT birthday rolls around, I will have gotten a little better at accepting that.

  BOGIE:  I accept that Bacall is a bossy little thing.  And I love her anyway.  I'm also twice her size, so I know I can push her out of the way if I choose.  It's just that I seldom choose to do so, because I love her.  It's funny that animals actually show more consideration than most humans.

  BACALL:  Well, I expect to go on thinking it's all about me.  Don't expect that to change.  My reasonable standards of conduct are to accept being spoiled 24/7.  And I am seldom disappointed.

Miss Me?

		Tuesday, 31 August 10 - 10:58 AM (GMT -06:00) By Susie Randle in Work

One good way to find out if you are needed in your workplace is to be gone a few days.  If you can see over your "In" box when you get back, you probably were not missed.

It looks like they missed me a lot the three days I was gone from work (due to medical appointments and car trouble).  I'd like to think that is job security, but I know no one's job is safe these days.

Got to get my shovel out and keep digging through this pile of work.  At least the day is bound to go by quickly.

  BOGIE:  Get your day over Mama, and come home to us.  My In basket is my mouth, and it is EMPTY!  I heard a rumor that you are going to open two new bags of Science Diet tonight.  I can't wait!!!

  BACALL:  Once again, Bogie proves that he has nothing but food on his mind. 

You should have taken me to work with you Mama!  I could lie down in your In box and smash the papers down so you can see over them.  Maybe you couldn't see over me, though.  But then, Cat Rule #5 is "If you want to get noticed, get in the way."  It works every time.

Off to a Bad Start (No Start At All)

		Monday, 30 August 10 - 09:44 AM (GMT -06:00) By Susie Randle in Life

This was a ill-omened beginning for a week.  My car would not start this morning.  Had to call a tow truck to come get it.  The tow truck driver really thinks it is the battery; my husband really thinks it is the starter.  We had the starter replaced a few months ago, but sometimes you have to go through more than one starter to get one that works right.  On the other hand, the battery is old and very well could have a bad cell.  Either way, I just hope the repair shop can fix it today.

Of course, when I tried to report back to my husband about what the tow truck driver said, I found that my cell phone battery was completely dead.  I couldn't find his cell phone number written down (when I want to call him on his cell, I usually use the stored number on my cell phone), and he wasn't at work yet.  Finally, after the tow truck driver left, I located his cell phone number in my wallet.  I'm sure it has been there for years, I just forgot about it

Right now, my nerves are really jumpy and my tummy is upset.  I have been prone to "nervous stomach" problems since I was a small child.  I also have an unusually touchy stomach--I have to watch what I eat, because practically anything can set it off.  Plus I have chronic IBS that is badly impacted by nervous issues.  I guess I will take a few doses of Emetrol and another Dicyclomine.  Then I'll try to take it easy today.  Maybe not spend a day in bed (as I have been fantasizing) but do some soothing, quiet activities.

When things like this happen, I always think about the old joke.

Cheer up.  Things could be worse.

So I cheered up, and sure enough, they got worse.

But I am going to try to stay positive about the situation--hope that all is well by tomorrow, my digestive system settles down, and I can get back to work. 

As one way of cheering myself up, I decided to change my blog layout.  I really like this design, because it gives me a nice wide page for my blog entries.  I love the tropical beach picture--there are even a few touches of fall color in it.  I feel like I would LOVE to walk right into that scene right now.  I really, really would.

  BOGIE:  Cheer up, Mama.  Unless I miss my guess, Bacall and I will make you smile today.  And I almost never miss my guess.

  BACALL:  Ha, ha, Mama!  I'm going to take you to the doctor for some tummy shots.  How would you like that?  My guess is I'm not over my cranky about you taking me to the vet for shots.  Better get the crunchy treats out if you want me to go on smile duty.

Wild and Crazy Me

		Saturday, 28 August 10 - 03:19 PM (GMT -06:00) By Susie Randle in Fun

Fantasies.  We all have them.  Temptations.  We all have them.  Wild and crazy choices.  We all need to give in to them sometimes.  And today I am going to tell you one of my most secret, treasured fantasies.  What I am SO tempted to do.  A choice that I often struggle with making.  Are you ready for this?

An entire day in bed.  By myself. 

Ha, ha, ha!  I bet you thought it was going to be something really juicy, shocking, or at least mildly titillating.  Maybe something involving famous people--naked.  Sorry to disappoint. 

But seriously, I would so love an occasional day when I did not have to get out of bed, except to fix myself some comfort food or visit the bathroom.  Not staying in bed because I am sick, but because I want to.  I would sleep in as late as I please, lie in bed and read, do needlework, watch videos, and take a couple of naps during the day.  A total waste of a day doing what is fun for me. 

Really, nothing is stopping me from spending a day like that, except that unbending little voice of discipline in my head that says, "You know, you really should get some laundry done, clean the cat's water fountain, vacuum, fix dinner, take out the garbage, etc., etc., etc."  I hate that little voice--I have come to think of it as The Warden.  If there was a body attached to The Warden (other than mine) and if I had a gun, there are times when I would cheerfully shoot it. 

I believe The Warden was implanted in my head by my Mother, a family legacy of discipline that she passed along to me.  The Warden was bequeathed to her by her own mother.  My grandmother was an admirable person in many ways, but she seemed to have a stick running up her backside.  She was an unbending woman who enforced a lot of standards and rules on my mother, most of which were meaningless. 

I know there is a reason to maintain some level of discipline in life.  Without it, I might never to go to work, exercise, maintain a somewhat healthy diet, get my housework (ugh!) done, or do the myriad other things a responsible adult does.  

But as I get older, I am more and more aware that there is less and less time left to me to enjoy my life.  (Of course, none of us ever know what the "pull date" is on our shelf life.)  

I feel the need to learn how to, at times (in the vulgar parlance of the Internet), tell The Warden to STFU.  An occasional day in bed, eating as much ice cream as I want, spending a few bucks on some pretty underwear, having a glass or two of wine (despite the attendant risk of migraine), or just having some generic fun for a change--why the heck not?! 

I'm working on letting the discipline go a bit and even take an occasional risk; and I have made some definite progress lately.  As old as I am, I learn how to do new things every day.  Making the choice to put The Warden in a box and shut the lid on him is one of them.  Letting Wild and Crazy Me out of her box more often is the next step. 

  BOGIE:  I don't have a little voice in my head that tells me not to sleep and eat all day.  I do what I like, and I'm a very happy boy.  People should be more like me--fill your head with happy thoughts, and there won't be any room Mean Mr. Warden.  I was born a wild and crazy guy, and I'm determined to stay that way.

  BACALL:  Bogie, there is practically nothing in your head as it is.  I'm sure a voice of reason could fit in there quite nicely.  You just won't let it in.  And, for once, I agree with you.  That is why cats have more fun than humans.  We are not shackled with feelings of guilt about everything we do; hence, we don't have those little killjoy voices in our heads that say, "stop having fun!"  If it feels good, do it, that's what cats say.  And we do it all day. 

Bacall (aka Florida Jones) and the Temple of the Vet Monster

		Saturday, 28 August 10 - 07:38 AM (GMT -06:00) By Susie Randle in Animals

Bacall had her wellness checkup and shots yesterday.  I took a whole day off work for our "adventure" because I always like to keep an eye on my cats after they get vaccinations.

I read a good article this morning on animal vaccinations:

http://www.pawnation.com/2010/08/24/cat-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-w%7Cdl5%7Csec1_lnk3%7C166622

There are side effects to the vaccinations.  I had one cat who obviously did not feel very well for a day or so after vaccinations; but that was may years ago, and they have improved the vaccines and the additives.  Bacall seemed to have no ill after effects.

She did stick to me like glue all day.  Somehow cats do not seem to blame the vet experience on their owners.  I believe their little cat brains see it as a scary predicament we both go through.  Sort of like this:

A force beyond their control (a summons from the cat gods?) compels Bacall and Mama to embark on a dangerous quest.  We are guided to the temple of the vet monster, where the courageous Bacall must suffer through many frightening trials.  First she escapes a fiendish mechanism that detects her weight--no doubt for nefarious purposes.  Next, a hideous, cold metal disk is used to capture her heartbeat.  The third trial is not one, not two, but THREE horrendous needles of fire.  But the fourth and final trial is the worst--she is taken captive by the vet monster herself.  This twisted arch villian looks in Bacall's mouth, ears, and eyes and feels all over her body, looking for any lumps or other irregularities that will cause her to fail the test and be subject to further tortures.  But Bacall's purity of health and soundness of mind allow her to pass even this ultimate trial.  The instant the villianous vet's hands release her, Bacall's trusty sidekick, Mama, whisks her back into her magical cat carrier.  Together, the intrepid adventurers make their way toward the gates leading to freedom.  After paying a fortune to the temple gatekeepers, Mama and Bacall are allowed to escape with their lives.  They climb onto the seats of Mama's Enchanted PT Cruiser and return home, triumphant again, until next year's vet visit.

Bacall did pass her checkup with flying colors.  She has gained almost 2 pounds since her last vet visit.  That is a good thing for her, because she has always been a bit on the thin side.  We switched her and Bogie to a primary diet of Science Diet, and it has obviously paid off.  Her allergy problems are much better than they were, which I also attribute to Science Diet.  All her vital signs are excellent.

Bacall will be 10 years old on September 20.  Of course she will always be our baby, but she is getting up there for a purebreed cat.  Shots and vet exams are important for a cat at any age, but especially important as they grow older. 

She had a 3-year rabies, 3-FVRCP (combo feline viral rhinotracheitis, calcivirus, and panleukopenia [distemper]), and 1-year feline leukemia vaccination.  Her teeth are clean as a whistle, thanks again to Science Diet, plentiful and always available fresh water, and the occasional tartar control treat. 

Denny and I have owned cats all our lives, and we know when a cat is unwell or failing.  But a professional exam by a veterinary doctor can detect health problems before they become readily apparent to a cat owner.

We did leave a substantial portion of our already almost empty sack of gold at the vets, but hey, our babies are worth it!

Bogie and Bacall are kept strictly indoors, but as I have mentioned, we take them with us when we evacuate in the path of an oncoming hurricane.  They are our "children," our responsibility, and 100% dependent on us to care for them and keep them safe from danger.  Pet friendly hotels are wonderful, but you have no guarantee that pets who stayed in your room before you were healthy and fully vaccinated.  Now I don't have to worry that Bacall will become sick because of an evacuation.

  BOGIE:  I HATE HURRICANE EVACUATIONS!  I know you and Dad were scared during Hurricane Ivan, but it just amused Bacall and me to see you sitting in the hallway all night long.  How bad can a hurricane be?  OK, I guess I really don't know.  Maybe trees flying around, funnel-shaped clouds with mobile homes and cows inside them, and torrential rain aren't that cool.  But I still HATE HURRICANE EVACUATIONS!

  BACALL:  Well, Bogie, if you would learn to cuddle up to Dad when we stay in a hotel, you would be a lot happier.  Last evacuation, you roamed around the room and meowed for 2 days straight.  After a few hours, I snuggled up next to Mama, and I calmed down.  You could learn some things from your little sister if you weren't such a stick in the mud.  And by the way, my vet quest is over for this year, and YOU'RE NEXT!  Moo-ooo-ha-ha-ha! 

Not Yo' Mama

		Friday, 27 August 10 - 07:20 AM (GMT -06:00) By Susie Randle in Children

I visit a lot of Mama blogger pages and get a lot of Mom blogger e-mails.  I gotta tell you, some of the pictures of babies and children are absolutely adorable, and I feel a little pang when I see them.  But just a teeny, tiny, little pang.  And it goes away quickly, like a mild case of heartburn.

Many years ago, I decided NOT to be a Mom; and I have seldom regretted my choice.  IMHO, you really, really, really have to want children before you have them.  They shouldn't be an accident or something you do to please someone else--say, because your Mom wants grandchildren or your husband wants sons.  The decision to have children should be a very conscious, reasoned decision.  After all, they are not cute little dolls you can put away in their cases when you tire of playing with them.  They bring endless possibilities, some of which are wonderful and some of which may, quite frankly, be very negative.

I am in a position to have a unique perspective on parenthood.  I see other people's children all week long.  Some of the children suffer from diseases and disabilities, many of them severe and even fatal.  Other children are truly gifted.  A few have emotional/behavior issues. 

And I see their parents, too.  Some are dedicated and devoted to their children, no matter what.  Then there are the parents who are totally committed to a child, but are also totally overwhelmed by the difficulties involved in raising a child with grave problems or even gifts that challenge them constantly.  And unfortunately, I see the occasional parent who obviously would like to drop their child off somewhere and never come back for him/her. 

Parenthood requires so much committment, hard work, and understanding.  Quite frankly, I can see how it might be too much for some people; especially if they did not want and choose, with every ounce of their heart and soul, to be a parent.

I also have a realistic grasp of and knowledge about overpopulation.  Many of the horrendous problems in our world today have their roots in overpopulation, but very few people have the courage to speak out and say so.  Certainly, it is political suicide to do so.  But the  reality lies in simple math.  There are already too many people drawing on the resources of this planet.  Under these circumstances, NO ONE should have more than two children.  Preferably, no one should have more than one child.  And anyone who does not absolutely feel the need to have "natural" children should adopt.  You could give love and a good home to unlimited numbers of adoptive children if you so chose.

I realize adoption can be an expensive, lengthy process, but raising a "natural" child is a lifetime commitment, too--and I wonder how many prospective parents are aware of how much it will cost them to raise any child.

There are those who will say I can't know what I am talking about, because I am not a parent.  They have a right to believe what they want to believe.  But I know that my heart has always been in the right place.  I could not countenance bringing children into the world that I was not strongly committed to raising--through all their possible health and mental problems, through all the years of dirty diapers and sullen teenagehood.  And I could not countenance adding to an already overpopulated world just for the sake of having children to fit in and do what everyone else does. 

I'm proud to say I had the courage to "just say no" to motherhood when it was not the right choice for me. 

Being a "cat Mom" is good enough for me.  And when I get a little twinge about what might have been, I remind myself about why I made the choices I made.  I'm happy to not be yo' Mama, or anyone else's--except for Bogie's and Bacall's.

  BOGIE:  We're happy to be your babies, Mama!  Cats are babies that never grow up and become rebellious teenagers.  OK, we're always a bit rebellious, but as long as you keep the crunchies coming, we're pretty happy.  And the only drug we care about is catnip.  An occasional roll in catnip keeps us mellow.

  BACALL:  Well, I like my catnip more than occasionally.  If you don't want me to get cranky, show me the 'nip! 

Hurricane Season

		Thursday, 26 August 10 - 08:44 AM (GMT -06:00) By Susie Randle in Weather

As we who live in areas regularly impacted by hurricanes know, we have reached the middle of hurricane season.  I have a bad feeling about hurricane season this year, and  September seems to be an especially dangerous month for our area.

So, what can one do to prepare?  I have bought bottled water.  Batteries, little cans of Starbucks Expresso (gotta have my caffeine), and nonperishable snacks like packaged trail mix are on my shopping list.  We have plenty of cat food and treats on hand, and of course we share our bottled water with them.  (I would go hungry and thirsty myself before I let our cats suffer.)

We don't have a generator because we don't really have room in our tiny townhouse to store one, nor would our close neighbors appreciate the noise one makes.  When the power goes out after a hurricane, we just try to use up our perishable foods quickly.  It is uncomfortable, but we can survive until the power comes on again.

Our gas-powered barbecue is sufficient for cooking, and can be used to boil water when needed. 

Of course, water may not be available for days after a hurricane, so we fill the bathtub and other large containers with water before the hurricane arrives.

I am also taking Bacall to the vet for her shots tomorrow.  Our cats are strictly indoor cats--they never leave the house EXCEPT for vet appointments and evacuations.  I don't want to risk exposing her to diseases in a pet-friendly hotel. 

She needs her shots, anyway, because too many of our neighbors allow their cats to roam outside, where they are exposed to diseases (not to mention the risk of being run over by cars or abused by some sick person).  They (the cats, not the neighbors  ) come right up to our windows with their germy bodies. 

We sat through a LONG night when Hurricane Ivan struck our town; and we have decided that, if anything stronger than a weak Category 2 hurricane is headed our way, we will evacuate.  The last time we did this, we left at about 3:00 a.m. on the day the hurricane was expected to arrive, and the traffic was minimal.  There are some highway bottlenecks on our evacuation route, and we know if you wait until the last minute to evacuate, you may find yourself stuck in a horrible traffic jam.

So I guess we are about as well prepared as we can be at this point.  We do hope, of course, that we will get through another hurricane season unscathed.  And I'll keep buying those lottery tickets in the meantime--maybe some day we can afford to move away from this area that seems to be cursed with bad weather and lousy economic conditions.

  BOGIE:  I'll keep my paws crossed for us to win the lottery, Mama!  Just remember if you win and we move, that I want my own room in our new house.  I'm gonna put up a sign that says "Keep Out, Bacall!" so I can enjoy peaceful naps without that wild woman getting in my face!

  BACALL:  Wild woman?  WILD WOMAN?  Bogie, you have finally gone around the bend.  I am a goddess and a diva.  There is not a wild bone in my body.  If I have to bite your butt to get your attention, whose fault is that? You can bet if a hurricane comes, I will bite it HARD.  Someone will have to wake you up, or you will sleep through all the excitement.

Bigger is Not Necessarily Better

		Wednesday, 25 August 10 - 07:33 AM (GMT -06:00) By Susie Randle in Perspective

The other day, I noticed a tiny bug on our bathroom counter--the kind of thing that jumps on you outside and you unknowingly carry it into your house.  This bug was maybe 1/16 of an inch long and looked kind of like a cricket.  Maybe a baby cricket.  "How interesting," I thought.  "Kind of a cute little bug.  No reason to kill it, it isn't hurting anything."

Later on, I got to thinking about what we perceive as cute and harmless, and what we perceive as scary and harmful.  I wonder how much of that depends on size.  If a big old cricket was on the counter, I would want to at least capture it and put it outside--I don't want it hopping around me.  But this tiny, cricket-like bug didn't bother me in the least.  I felt perfectly comfortable coexisting with it in the house. as your hand, and roaches that are 2 inches or more long and fly.  They totally freak me out, and I either kill them or (whenever possible) get my husband to do so.  However, if I see a little bitty spider or a tiny beetle bug in the house, I generally just leave it alone--unless the cats start playing with it, in which case I try to scoop it up and put it outside.  Little bitty bugs don't scare me at all.

Do you suppose evolution has hard-wired into us the tendency to be alarmed by larger versions of things and not alarmed by smaller ones?  I can see where that would have survival value, especially when man lived in nature instead of sheltered from the natural world like we are today.  Big things are harder to fight off, and if they are big enough, they just might squish you.

Of course, it could just be my tendency to find small things more attractive.  I like small, sport cars; small, delicate jewelry; small animals; small people--I'm just not into "super-sizing." 

My husband is a good-sized man--just under six feet.  Obviously I find him attractive, but I can't recall ever being attracted to a man who was more than six feet tall.  But then I know lots of other women like really tall, brawny men.

Or maybe it is a matter of proportions.  Perhaps we get an idea in our heads when we are young about what size certain things should be, and anything outside what we perceive as the "acceptable" range is alarming to us. 

I really don't know.  Just something interesting to think about.  I often wonder what makes me, and people in general "tick."  I expect I will go on wondering about that until the day I die.   

  BOGIE:  I find people interesting, too.  Not interesting enough to stay awake for, but at least mildly amusing.  Like, why does Dad tie a piece of cloth around his neck when he goes to work?  Why does Mom make herself exercise?  Why doesn't EVERYONE own a cat?  Most of the time I quickly conclude that people are just plain weird, and go back to sleep.

  BACALL:  That "piece of cloth" is called a necktie, Bogie.  I swear, if you were any more ignorant, YOU would be human.  I already know what makes humans tick, and I want no part of it.  Except the part where they perceive me as being beautiful and precious, because that makes them feed, care for, and generally spoil me.  Any other thoughts rattling around in their minds are not the slightest bit interesting to me.

A Deafening Silence

		Tuesday, 24 August 10 - 07:02 AM (GMT -06:00) By Susie Randle in Society

I arrive at work quite early each morning, mainly because I have to deal with grueling traffic on my commute if I don't get an early start.  I also enjoy being in my office before others arrive, because it is quiet--I can "hear myself think."

One of the things I think about on these quiet mornings is what it would be like if, for only 15 minutes each day, everyone in the world had to shut up and sit still.  Stop talking, stop texting, stop tweeting, stop Facebook updating, stop e-mailing, stop writing their blogs, stop walking, stop driving.  Just sit in total silence for one quarter hour of their day. 

I expect it would drive some people mad. 

But others might find that they still have the ability to  maintain their sanity while doing something other than projecting their noise outward and rushing around, mostly on nonsensical errands. 

Some may turn inside and examine their thoughts instead of immediately spewing out everything that comes to mind.  What a revelation that would be for most people! 

Others may look around them and really see the world, grasping the enormity of what is outside themselves.

Still others may begin to recognize that other people and things are more than just receptacles for their noise or objects to be acted upon.

However, I expect some would simply fall asleep--there are those who can't maintain consciousness in the face of silence and stillness.  But a nap can be a very good tool, too, for attitude adjustment and health.

I'm going to stick my neck out here, and say the world would be a better place if everyone spent as little as 15 minutes each day in contemplation, meditation, or just peaceful stillness.  I'm afraid very few people would do so, even if mandated by law or societal sanctions.  Our world has become such a noisy, agitated place, some folks would find silence deafening and stillness intolerable.  That's sad, don't you think?

  BOGIE:  I devote a lot of time to stillness and silence.  Sometimes I am even awake while not moving or meowing.  And look at how well adjusted I am!  The world would definitely be a better place if humans thought and acted as cats. 

  BACALL:  I have to agree with Bogie (as much as it pains me to do so).  If cats ran the world, it would be a much quieter place.  One has to be quiet in order to sneak up on one's prey.  Humans already know how to pounce.  Let them learn how to do it quietly.