listening

Do I listen?

Well I try to listen, honest I do.

It's just that, well, things get lost. Between my ears and my brain I mean. They definitely make it to my ears I know this because I hear it happening.

Then...

They get a little mislaid. When they resurface they are perfectly acceptable and resonable.

It's only when I repeat them that I realise they have become confuddled in my brain: they sound exactly the way I want them to. Not a big deal, I'm sure you will agree and it brings a whole new meaning to hearing what you want to hear!

Rowan

My old dog has got a warped sense of humour! He just doesn't realise that his 'jokes' are wearing thin.

Every morning I wake up and get ready to take the dogs out, Rowan lies in his bed and will not move. (Incase you are wondering his hearing loss is entirely selective; drop a crumb of food and he hears that!) I call him summoning up all the usual bribes - walk time, treats etc to no avail. I start to worry, he is old, give him a wee shake; still nothing. By this stage I'm usually getting into a panic. My 9 year old comes along and what does he do? I'll tell you what; he jumps out of his bed and wiggles his backside over to her for a snuggle!! Wee sod!

By this time the pup (who is actually 4 but will always be the pup) has nearly worn herself out spinning in circles at the door. I suppose in some ways I should thank the old man, walks are never as long in the morning they are both knackered after 10mins.

There are also the times that he flat out refuses to leave the house, or he won't get in the car. This stubborn streak developed after he had been ill and realised that we wouldn't force him to walk far. He has the memory of an elephant, who ever said dogs could be stupid? Actually looking at the pup ignore that question.

history? herstory?

I am writing tonight because I was recently contacted by an old friend. It was one of those situations when you don't know how to respond, if indeed you respond at all. In the end I thought, what the heck life is too short to ignore people who played a big part in your life. The hesitation was due to how we lost contact and us not always being the best influence for each other. I think I was afraid of being pulled down so I'm a bit cautious over the whole matter. Still we have been doing the whole nostalgic reminiscing thing which obviously being 9 yrs since we last talked included school. So many good memories we shared and so many wild times too, the big realisation was that life is so much based on making memories that we always wish we had back, then you forget how good life is in the present; meaning we don't fully enjoy the memories that we are making right now and before you know it you will be wishing for those times back thus sparking a circle reaction. Is this true of everyone? If not what is the point of the abundance of happy memories we collect, what a confusing thing life can be.

soap box

Politics and students never did mix well. The learning curve? I backed down and succumbed to conforming! Not an easy feat but relatively painless on this occasion. Is this the new me? Will I be less hot headed in the future? Have I really learned to harness the passion that normally sparks rage when faced with conformity? Or am I just displaying adult behaviour?

The most ironic psychology of life. I discovered that you may spend a lifetime waiting on growing up only to realise that that is exactly how some people miss out on enjoying life as it is. After this I embraced the 17 year old inner me only to find that she has matured without MY permission. Tut tut... Maybe next time she will have reverted to teenage tantrums and the balance will be restored.