1. When Debbie goes away, whether on short trips or longer stays, I get along at home just fine. I'm self-driven to cook, read, learn new things, maintain stimulating exchanges with friends online, explore the arts at home and in Spokane, and I have relaxing times at The Lounge and when I go spin reels and eat bar and grill food I enjoy at one of the casinos. I enjoy Sibling Outings with Christy and Carol and our weekly family dinners. And, it goes without saying, I always have the warm and reliable companionship of Copper and Gibbs.
But when Debbie returns home, my world expands. She's read books I don't know about, She has ideas regarding things to do together I haven't thought of. I often fall into cooking ruts (enjoyable ones, but ruts all the same) and Debbie brings welcomed and different ways of cooking and does things in the kitchen she's learned while away.
It was that way today. We have extended and healthy periods of silence when we retreat into our own worlds at home and have little to say to each other. But then something pops up. Debbie tells me about a book written by a man who became obsessed with empty urban lots of land in Austin, TX. I think of something from the music we enjoyed Sunday and I tell her what's on my mind. Debbie comes home from Walmart where she's run into a friend, comforted a neighbor, and talked to former students. She tells me good stories. So, yeah, I try to expand my experience in and knowledge of the world daily. I do a decent job of it when I'm living alone.
But with Debbie back home, with the meeting of our minds, my world becomes much more expanded.
2. As Copper ages, he seems to want my company more and more. He never has been an affectionate cat and that remains true. But, as I write this, lying on my back on the bed, he purrs, resting about six inches away from me, careful not to make contact with me from my waist to the top of my head. When I get under the covers and lie on my back, Copper will press himself against one of my lower legs, but he won't press against me in any other way.
He does, however, like it a lot when I pet him or rest a hand on his back, side, or belly.
So, today, he meowed quite a bit and decided he was beseeching me to come into the bedroom with him. I assumed the prone position on the bed and rested my hand under his chin and he relaxed and closed his eyes, looking like he'd just eaten a package of catnip.
He was quiet, at peace, and content.
He fell asleep.
I stayed with him for about an hour or so and Copper's body language conveyed to me that I'd done just what he wanted.
We were both very happy.
3. Christy expanded my world this evening. She hosted family dinner and assigned Debbie and me to bring halved hard boiled eggs, steamed asparagus, and sliced tomatoes as contributions to a Roasted Salmon Nicoise Platter. With the platter's salmon, asparagus, tomatoes, lettuce, cold cooked potato slices, capers, and a vinaigrette spread out before us, we each made our own salad. Carol baked bread to accompany our meal.
I'd never had this exact meal before.
Before we served ourselves from the Nicoise spread, we enjoyed pickled vegetables, cheese, crackers, and cheese spread for an appetizer. Christy baked brownies for dessert and I accepted her offer of vanilla ice cream to accompany it. I never got around, darn it, to munching a few Easter M&Ms Christy also made available.
This was a fun and refreshing dinner.
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