Yep,
as soon as I was out of the bath, I opened the front door and Silver came
running in. Straight for her food bowl! I put some cheese ends in there – she’s
given them a try, but evidently not to her liking. As I’m eating a banana she
comes from her food bowl (still not empty) and looks at the banana longingly!
Eish, what a vraat!
I try
not to dwell on this, but it’s nine years today since my mum died. It would
also have been her mother’s 106th birthday today. I sometimes wonder
what life would have been like, if our family hadn’t been so torn apart by
arrogance and self-righteousness. My mum was, on the one hand, a great one for
writing letters and keeping in touch with a wide range of family and friends –
yet, sadly, on the other hand, she was equally big on judging. And writing
people off. But she could also be exceptionally kind and generous – opening her
home and generously giving a lot of her time for friends in need.
I do
sometimes wonder where I got my strong social independence. I don’t know of
anyone else in my family – whether immediate or extended – who can spend an
entire weekend without seeing another human face; let alone spend two weeks
without any social contact. Whereas I can, and have, done both. Last year I
took two weeks off in December until past New Year. In that time I did not call
anyone, nor attended any social function – the only social contact I had was
with my neighbour. Or in 2015, when the project had finished and everyone left
and I took a whole month leave in East London, before starting to pack up to
move to Pretoria. I went for drives, explored the beaches, the surroundings,
took a host of photo’s – all on my own. Ok, so I had regular phone
conversations with a friend, who was going through a tough patch – but the
other 71 hours I barely spoke to a soul! And yet, I can’t really claim to be anti-social,
either. I’m just as happy partying through the night with a safe bunch of
friends! In 2011 for example, no F1 weekend went without a party! Sometimes
just around the race, sometimes going on till the wee hours – and I loved every
minute! I did miss that when it came to an end, as in when those guys flew home
one-by-one until I was the only one left.
I used
to put in the effort to build a social life for no reason other than peer– or
should I say family-pressure. How it’s not normal to not have an active social
life. How it proves there’s something wrong with me. But you know what? Since
I’ve shelved that ‘standard’ as ‘not applicable’ – I’m much, much happier! I
know there’s nothing wrong with me. I also know that the lack of social
butterflies fluttering around me is not proof that I’m sub-normal! And I no
longer value opinions of people who have not earned my respect – no exceptions.
I just wish I had outgrown these childhood indoctrination sooner, but then I
remember the quote from David Bowie “Aging is an extraordinary process where
you become the person you always should have been.” And if I hadn’t been who I was
for so many years, I wouldn’t appreciate who I’ve become. Told you I could
think my way through a corkscrew without touching the sides! Try and follow, he
he.
Back
home I had a lovely chat with my neighbour – until it started raining, chasing
us inside. Silver, for some reason, wouldn’t let me anywhere near her. She was
insisting I open up the magic food bowl (i.e. front door) but when I tried
picking her up she ran away like she used to before she moved in. Upstairs I
first filled her ‘treat’ bowl – I’ve bought 2 cans of meat in jelly, which she
likes. Now she ‘likes’ it so much, she’s turning her nose up at the Bob
Martins! She cleaned that out, then went into the kitchen, climbed onto the
counter and licked the spoon I use to fill her bowl! When nothing more came,
she started going through the flat … she somehow got on top of the bookshelf in
the spare room and pushed a box off! It only had some 3D puzzles (made of
paper, thus practically weightless) in it – but my vase are right next to it.
So I took those down and put them in a safe place.
Adventures
started in the online game – and I had quite a time to catch up on what to do,
how it works, etc. I got so busy, I completely forgot the time and it was after
eight when I remembered that I hadn’t eaten! I started frying a simple steak
and Silver became an absolute pest! So much so that I gave her a tap on the
nose, I’m sorry to say. She carried on for a couple of minutes before walking
out in a huff. She came back just as I was about to have the last two bites …
so I cut one up for her and put it in her bowl.
Then I
went back to the game – which is really exciting right now! Then, around nine I
realised I couldn’t see Silver anywhere – so I went looking. This isn’t a big
flat. There aren’t many places where she could be. And I didn’t think there
would be any place she could hide. I went around the whole flat twice! No cat.
Not in the wardrobe, not under the bed, not behind a curtain. Not in any
corner. As I’m scratching my head wondering whether she could have gone out – I
step back for another look in the bedroom … and there is sits on the floor just
inside the room! I have no clue where she had hidden herself! Since her treat
bowl is still empty, she’s gone back outside. She really is quite a character!
Anyway,
still on the loosing-track-of-time, it’s way past my bedtime – there’s been a
lot of chat and activity about this new Adventure feature! So I better get some
shut eye.
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