Back to Cali

I’m home. We’re home. It was the best week ever, and now we are back. Our cat Cleo is ecstatic to see us, which is obvious from the fact that she has been following us around and right now is vigorously cleaning herself while sitting on my lap as I type. She’s into me. Ax thinks she’s into him particularly, and Mike refers to her as “daddy’s girl” while he scratches under her chin. Of course she’s into Mike when he’s scratching her chin. But actually I think she does particularly like him. He’s good to her: When he feeds her he makes sure to put the little cream colored treat pellets in the bowl and not just the brown ones. And he always gives her fresh water even if her bowl still has water in it. He always acknowledges her with a pat or a chat when she passes by or rubs his leg. He’s considerate that way.

But I give her the most lap time. Plus I’m her in/out door bitch at night. And even though I’m cavalier about it, I fill her bowl most frequently as the home person. And Ax plays with her and snuggles her. So between the three of us her physical/mental/emotional needs are fairly well met at all times. She seems to have weathered our time away but clearly she is glad we are home.

I am too. I like being back at my plastic folding table desk with my rose quartz Ganesh, looking out onto our neighbor’s storage shed and our toasted, struggling bamboo that doesn’t really shield it. I like being back in my lumpy old futon bed with the divot that fits my body just right. I like having my coffee in my coffee maker with my kind of milk available right when I wake up.

Our house is technically not as luxurious as the house we were just in for vacation. From our house we don’t hear crashing waves or cawing seagulls. But it’s our house, with our cat, our comforts, and I love it.

Last night as we passed out after getting home from our long journey back Ax said, “I really missed my fire station.” Today he will enjoy playing with his fire station and his other toys in his room with his dad while I go to my regular and then yoga and then who knows. There’s nothing like going away to make me appreciate being back. And I appreciate it.