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Tomorrow we head home
Aug. 20th, 2021 06:57 pmI've had a wonderful time here in Upper Michigan. We swam in the lake, did some thrift-shopping, got new swimsuits, visited friends and in-laws, I got plenty of reading done, went for some scenic drives, and I even visited an island! Well, a small one, attached to the mainland by a small bridge. So, technically I did visit an island but it didn't involve overcoming any of my fears like riding in a boat. Next time maybe.
The friend who has been checking in on our cat while we're gone said she managed to lure him out of hiding only once. She managed to snap a few pictures of him, then he scooted behind the couch and stayed there. I was so grateful to see the pictures though, his big eyes and his little pink mouth, just to see that he is okay and exactly as I remember him. I can't wait to see him tomorrow after the long drive.
While staying at Husband's parents' house, we did get to spend time with his sister's dog, Pepper. Pepper is a black lab, three years old, and she's kinda funny. She never barks, she likes to balance her toys on her paws while she lies on her back, and she shies away from being petted. My dad-in-law says when he takes her for a walk, she occasionally likes to sit down and people-watch. Mid-walk, she will plop down to watch people go into the church, not resuming the walk until the people are gone. He said once some guys were doing work on the roof of the church, and Pepper had to sit down and watch them for a long time before she could be coaxed to keep walking. While we've been here, she's mostly been aloof toward us but a couple times she randomly got excited and started jumping on us while we sat on the couch, leaving a long scratch on my thigh, oof!
Once we get home, we have a lot to think about and do. We have been thinking about moving here to Upper Michigan to be closer to Husband's family, and just to return to the place we grew up. It turns out one of our friend's parents is looking to sell their house, and Husband says it's a nice house and a good deal. We've also hear they need more workers up here, lot of job openings. We'd have to start making decisions quick, though. I personally do want to move back to Michigan, but I'll miss some things about Illinois, and I'm sure I'll have to fight a plethora of anxious thoughts that will come up during the process of moving. Speaking of anxiety though, I've had very little of it since we got here! This trip has done a lot for my confidence. This is no time to get lazy though, I'll have to keep pushing to make more progress.
When we do move, I won't miss the bajillion cicadas that come out every summer. Their buzzing is so loud you can't even have a conversation outside without raising your voice, and you can still hear them through the closed windows when you're trying to watch TV. I won't miss all the trash people leave on the ground here.
But there are some things I will miss, like the lack of mosquitos, the excellent hospitals and doctors that use the most modern methods, are equipped to handle basically anything, AND you don't have to drive an hour or more to reach them. I will miss the diversity, hearing people speak Hindi and Russian and Korean and Polish, going to restaurants and markets for food from around the world. I will miss the local library, which they're constantly improving and adding more resources to. I will miss being surrounded by people who take Covid-19 seriously, and who don't believe in conspiracy theories about devil-worshipping child-abusing pizza vendors. At least Husband's side of the family isn't like that, but a lot of my family is.
Well now I've gone and made myself sad! So here is a nice poem I discovered during this trip:
Stalker of Shadows
by Kenneth A. White
In the silence of my steamy club,
I stood serenely showering in my tub,
When I heard a shuffle.
A quaint, distinctly faint,
Softly padded shuffle,
On my brick-red rug and linoleum floor.
Then again a sound,
Muted and muffled,
Akin to crickets creeping close to a lion's roar.
To wit I peeked out and found,
That young cat I so adore,
Patroclus, playfully pounding back out the door.
Back to the ritual of rub and rinse,
When yet still his coy presence I could sense,
Stalking the shadows of my showering chore.
Quietly creeping,
Slowly sweeping across my bathroom floor.
And just as before
His playful plot again commenced.
For I was sure I heard the soft storm
Of padded paws pouncing upon porcelain form.
And from closed, soapy eyes did I imagine,
A tiny, dark and furry feline dragon,
Proudly perched atop that ivory throne,
Whose use this was not intended for.
From amidst the mist of foam,
That image twisted my lips into silent smirking,
That predator force so quietly lurking,
Searching for his perfect score.
Then gently came a scratching,
As if Nugent's fever ever was catching,
Latching upon my shower curtain tail.
And lifting it, as if certain to prevail,
He did not stall, he did not pause,
Nor did he fail,
Ears laid back and outstretched claws,
Did that cat sail,
And through the veil he was cast,
Crashing with a sorry splash,
Lashing out a loathsome wail.
Tables turned from hunter to prey,
This game he suddenly did not want to play.
His feet comically fought for gripping,
Slipping in the shower head spray,
Nearly tripping me in his angst to get away.
Finding purchase he so desperately needed,
In his escape he finally succeeded,
And fled the soggy scene
For the comfort of a cozy towel,
Where he licked himself dry and clean.
No longer the proud predator on prowl,
He looked upon me with wounded scowl.
The friend who has been checking in on our cat while we're gone said she managed to lure him out of hiding only once. She managed to snap a few pictures of him, then he scooted behind the couch and stayed there. I was so grateful to see the pictures though, his big eyes and his little pink mouth, just to see that he is okay and exactly as I remember him. I can't wait to see him tomorrow after the long drive.
While staying at Husband's parents' house, we did get to spend time with his sister's dog, Pepper. Pepper is a black lab, three years old, and she's kinda funny. She never barks, she likes to balance her toys on her paws while she lies on her back, and she shies away from being petted. My dad-in-law says when he takes her for a walk, she occasionally likes to sit down and people-watch. Mid-walk, she will plop down to watch people go into the church, not resuming the walk until the people are gone. He said once some guys were doing work on the roof of the church, and Pepper had to sit down and watch them for a long time before she could be coaxed to keep walking. While we've been here, she's mostly been aloof toward us but a couple times she randomly got excited and started jumping on us while we sat on the couch, leaving a long scratch on my thigh, oof!
Once we get home, we have a lot to think about and do. We have been thinking about moving here to Upper Michigan to be closer to Husband's family, and just to return to the place we grew up. It turns out one of our friend's parents is looking to sell their house, and Husband says it's a nice house and a good deal. We've also hear they need more workers up here, lot of job openings. We'd have to start making decisions quick, though. I personally do want to move back to Michigan, but I'll miss some things about Illinois, and I'm sure I'll have to fight a plethora of anxious thoughts that will come up during the process of moving. Speaking of anxiety though, I've had very little of it since we got here! This trip has done a lot for my confidence. This is no time to get lazy though, I'll have to keep pushing to make more progress.
When we do move, I won't miss the bajillion cicadas that come out every summer. Their buzzing is so loud you can't even have a conversation outside without raising your voice, and you can still hear them through the closed windows when you're trying to watch TV. I won't miss all the trash people leave on the ground here.
But there are some things I will miss, like the lack of mosquitos, the excellent hospitals and doctors that use the most modern methods, are equipped to handle basically anything, AND you don't have to drive an hour or more to reach them. I will miss the diversity, hearing people speak Hindi and Russian and Korean and Polish, going to restaurants and markets for food from around the world. I will miss the local library, which they're constantly improving and adding more resources to. I will miss being surrounded by people who take Covid-19 seriously, and who don't believe in conspiracy theories about devil-worshipping child-abusing pizza vendors. At least Husband's side of the family isn't like that, but a lot of my family is.
Well now I've gone and made myself sad! So here is a nice poem I discovered during this trip:
Stalker of Shadows
by Kenneth A. White
In the silence of my steamy club,
I stood serenely showering in my tub,
When I heard a shuffle.
A quaint, distinctly faint,
Softly padded shuffle,
On my brick-red rug and linoleum floor.
Then again a sound,
Muted and muffled,
Akin to crickets creeping close to a lion's roar.
To wit I peeked out and found,
That young cat I so adore,
Patroclus, playfully pounding back out the door.
Back to the ritual of rub and rinse,
When yet still his coy presence I could sense,
Stalking the shadows of my showering chore.
Quietly creeping,
Slowly sweeping across my bathroom floor.
And just as before
His playful plot again commenced.
For I was sure I heard the soft storm
Of padded paws pouncing upon porcelain form.
And from closed, soapy eyes did I imagine,
A tiny, dark and furry feline dragon,
Proudly perched atop that ivory throne,
Whose use this was not intended for.
From amidst the mist of foam,
That image twisted my lips into silent smirking,
That predator force so quietly lurking,
Searching for his perfect score.
Then gently came a scratching,
As if Nugent's fever ever was catching,
Latching upon my shower curtain tail.
And lifting it, as if certain to prevail,
He did not stall, he did not pause,
Nor did he fail,
Ears laid back and outstretched claws,
Did that cat sail,
And through the veil he was cast,
Crashing with a sorry splash,
Lashing out a loathsome wail.
Tables turned from hunter to prey,
This game he suddenly did not want to play.
His feet comically fought for gripping,
Slipping in the shower head spray,
Nearly tripping me in his angst to get away.
Finding purchase he so desperately needed,
In his escape he finally succeeded,
And fled the soggy scene
For the comfort of a cozy towel,
Where he licked himself dry and clean.
No longer the proud predator on prowl,
He looked upon me with wounded scowl.
