Traffic Jams and the Wild Life

Now I live in a city and have to put up with all that comes with it..... like heavy traffic. I'm sure that you are picturing me in my Honda with Garmin Nuvi guiding me through a maze of 880's, 280's, 101's and cars, cars, cars. But that is not the traffic I'm referring to. THIS traffic is right by my house.... in fact, it is on the fence that is 5 feet from my office window. When you are a small furry critter - like a squirrel - and you live in a city, you learn to adapt. OUR squirrels don't have unending forests and meadows to frolic in. They must learn to navigate small backyards and many busy streets. And yet, I have seen fewer squished and bloody squirrel bodies on the roads than I saw in Maine. So they must be getting something right here. And this is how they do it.... They use the fences as roads. Most if not all houses have fenced in yards. And these fences make great squirrel streets. I often see them flash by as I sit at my desk. And Daisy enjoys "street watching" too. But if you want a photo, you have to be fast. Because, just like our streets, squirrel streets can be very dangerous. These wooden streets are also used by all the domestic and feral cats in the area. Now when TEGC (The Evil Grey Cat) saunters down the fence, she/he is not in any hurry. And I think she/he enjoys making Daisy a bit crazy. Daisy has to watch all puffed up and making growly noises until TEGC is out of sight. Then Daisy is off to another window to keep track of TEGC's progress. Other handy "streets" for squirrels are the power lines. Squirrels here seem to have learned that it is safer to cross a busy street OVERHEAD rather than on the pavement. Our pet nanny says that San Jose is full of wild life.... skunks, possums and raccoons. She says that the raccoons are very brazen and can be vicious. I asked if they ever had moose come into town.... or deer. No, apparently not. But we do have birds - LOTS of birds. One morning, it was so noisy in the backyard, I had to go look. I saw 20 to 30 robins in trees, on roofs, on the ground. And sparrows swarming our bird feeder (competing with the squirrel - some things DON'T change). And this is all in the winter. I look forward to the wild life of summer. I'll keep you posted.

Being a GIT

Some of our children have become PIT's - that's Parents-In-Training. It is so interesting watching them learn about new babies...... Mom, you have to dry her off BEFORE you put on the clean diaper..... or Mom, don't let her head bang into the faucet!..... or Mom, her fingers keep getting stuck when I try to pull her hand through her sleeve..... How did my children ever survive my PIT time? And how did I figure out that if you put your hand UP the sleeve and hold the baby's fingers as you ease the sleeve OVER your hand and hers that no fingers will be lost... It is hard to remember. After all, it WAS several centuries ago! So I listen to the instructions I'm given and try to do as I'm told. After all, I am now a GIT - that's Grandparent-In-Training. And I suppose part of that is to give support without taking over. To help Mom and Dad learn as painlessly as possible some of the tricks of the trade. Now, when I was a PIT, I remember that sleep times were very precious. I could get the laundry done or take out the trash or do the dishes or take a shower. But as a GIT, I find that I don't have any interest in doing anything but holding that warm little sleepy bundle and just watching the miracle of sleep in someone so small. I try to picture what her life will hold and what she will be like in a few years and I cannot even begin to see that far. And yet, Mark and I talk about how when we were PIT's, we were living in the moment, unable to stay awake enough to get beyond the next feeding. As GIT's, we have the advantage of the BIG picture. We can imagine Amelie as a 2 year old, a 10 year old, an adult.... because we have been there. And so, each moment of her beginnings is so very precious. We realize that these moments of sleep will be gone before we are ready and that we will never have them again. And there will always be laundry and dishes and trash. And so, I sit on the couch for hours, holding her warm little body in my arms and watch her little lips pucker and twitch..... her pale lids flutter .... and wonder what her little brain is thinking.  And I think about all the wonderful things we will do together.... as I wait and enjoy the moment.