Sunday, August 10, 2014

Sunday musings

Parallels

I think we all have heard from "experts", learned people, and anyone with an opinion as to whether animals have a capacity for rational thought versus emotional process.
Regardless, this past couple of weeks gives me pause.
We have friends that live beside us and they have started a slow process in moving from their home to a new residence based on their own unique requirements. They have the pleasure of being hosts to 2 cats. One is a laid back old fellow with a mellow approach to life as long as he has a full food dish and empty litter bin - all is fine by him.
The other, well she is different.
She is a princess and rules the world and now and then will even allow you to pet her as she cruises through life.
Or she used to.
With the move process slowly stripping away furnishings in the home and that "empty" look and feeling growing, she knows/feels her world is different but does not know why or how.
She is confused and hurt.
Angry.
Helpless.
Only the outdoors which used to be her domain remain unchanged - but not really as another cat in the area senses that change is in the wind and now walks around what once was forbidden turf.
The angry howls reverberate from a formerly demure miss.
The princess feels swept away by something she does not understand and she reacts.
You know, this is something like the life we humans live as we age isn't it?
I have been a part of the aging process, no longer a young stripling but also still not a weary infirmed elder in a care hospice.
Yet...
One sees that the big and I mean BIG and pivotal moment in ones life is the day retirement starts. It takes a while but slowly and without any way out of it - you lose relevance in society.
Yes, one does.
No longer a person who interacts with co-workers, one whose opinions and decisions matter or impacts others - no, now the only time you get "respect" is when you pay for goods and services such as groceries!
Many people cannot accept this and rage silently in the night against this.
They flail out sometimes wildly and usually they speak without realizing the impact in anger about the world to the ones that care the most about them.
And as a result, drive a wedge between them and cannot understand why.
There is no answer or solution, it is life.
Period.
This does not happen to everyone obviously but when it does, it is hard on all.
Especially the aged.
Just like Princess the cat, they know things have changed but cannot understand why.
I hope that I, when the time comes, will become like the old fellow - fat and mellow and laid back.
My better half tells me I have the fat part well in place!
Paradise, AKA the Sandwich Islands have had one (as of Saturday) hurricane strike and news reports that a second one will actually miss which is good news. Video coverage shows large amounts of fallen trees and flooding yet the spirit of the Islands shine through as people interviewed show grace and goodness under such terms.
May Kāne spread his blessing on the  kānaka there.
The Middle East continues to rage and the world watches.
Is that part of the world doomed to eternal conflict?
Some pundits speculate that "modern" feudal states (sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it?) are incapable of change and the ruling group - mainly men who twist noble religions to fit their twisted sense of reality - would rather murder and main than evolve into rational beings.
A wise man once said, democracy and basic human rights are a luxury of a civilized society that can afford them.
And they are of little use when the barbarians are at the gates with guns and rockets.
And for your German word of the week -  the janitor in a German apartment block is called a Hausmeister, literally a master of the house.
In my Haus - I can be called the Hausdiener!
Speaking events...... this week sees the arrival of my golfing buddy (and his better 3/4 of course!) from the Prairie Flatlands for a bit of fun in the sun. And I have a whole new bag of "golf mulligans" to ensure that by hook or crook (cheating) I will soundly defeat the 007 look-a-like. We are looking forward to their company as indeed, I usually get to eat much better as well!
Everybody wins - whoopeeeeeee...........

take care out there,
flatlander52


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