(no subject)

[in_the_blue]

Listening is a lost art. Since it was lost, looking for it seemed the thing to do. Not anywhere exotic, just around.

The raccoon who guards the front door and sleeps like a puppy with her head on her paws is a very good listener, or at least has very good ears. But the only feedback she gives is to run away. That's okay. She's wild and shouldn't grow to trust people.

The chickadees frequenting the bird feeder have great ears. They're also brave to a point. One actually landed on my hand, probably because of inertia and good listening. It squawked and flew off, out of reach, and sat and watched. I tried to understand, but I don't speak chickadee. That's never stopped me from trying.

When I call his name, my cat listens. Mostly, he's just interested in preening and catching my hand with his paws and teeth. That's a language I understand, because I know he likes it when I pet him. This is what the hand-in-paws gesture means. He's taught me a lot about communication.

The cat, the birds, the wild creatures: they're easy. It's humans who have the most problem with listening. We interrupt, we rush to finish thoughts for each other. Maybe if we just slow down, breathe, and attend when other people speak their words, we'll learn more from each other than the cat's taught me.

But he is a pretty smart cat.

Comments

[prplhez8.livejournal.com]

Listening IS a lost art....along with letter writing. I think it's very very easy to get caught up in the daily hustle and bustle of life and just forget that when you ask someone how they're doing to either not automatically have a response ready in your head and/or to actually pause and hear them when they speak. Yes.

P.S. I'm loving Mumford & Sons, too. Any opinions on Adele?

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

Don't know very much of her stuff, but I like what I've heard.

I've noticed when people ask me how my day's going or how I'm doing, they don't want the honest answer. They just want to hear fine and get on with things. Of course, you know me. I give the honest answer, like it or not, then they're stuck dealing with the ramifications of a question they asked really getting answered. It's fun. Try it sometime!

[prplhez8.livejournal.com]

I kinda love her lots.

They do just want to hear fine and move on about their day. It's annoying really. But, sometimes I'm honest and others I just say fine and go on about my day. But I'll have to try your way of things more often. ;)

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

Now what's this about porn not writing itself? =D

[prplhez8.livejournal.com]

BWHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHAH

Mince words, you do not.

/Yoda

Just a long story that got longer and longer and LONGER (do you see where I'm going with this?) and would not end.

[jules1278.livejournal.com]

Did the story also get harder? TO WRITE, I mean. That is what I meant.

[prplhez8.livejournal.com]

Goofy, you are.

/Yoda

[jules1278.livejournal.com]

You're so right. And I love that your cat has taught you a lot about communication.

This is a beautiful post. *hugs lots*

PS - I want a raccoon who will lay his head on his paws and listen to me! Even if he runs away. ♥

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

It's just a little story, that's all! I was thinking about it when I went to fill my bird feeders today, about how it's like a social situation. About how it's the equivalent of an avian social hour. Then I came back inside and Will Turner (the cat, not Orlando Bloom) sat by my side purring, grabbing my hand.

The raccoon is a light brown and white one (instead of black and white). I named her Justine. She's there a lot, and I talk to her all the time. The only time she runs off is if I step outside, which is fitting.

[jules1278.livejournal.com]

It's beautiful writing! I think you should write all day, and I should read what you write all day. Think anyone would pay us to do this?

I don't know why I've always thought raccoons are adorable instead of fearing rabies or spilled garbage, but it is what it is. :P

I have probably watched too many cartoons and colored in too many "baby animals!" coloring books in my time.

♥

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

Actually, they are pretty adorable. They can be destructive, but they can also be beautiful and sweet. I try to keep a respectful distance from them, since they are wild and they do carry disease, but I sure love to watch them.

In the summertime when the babies start showing up with the adult raccoons, I put out different sorts of things, from their usual cat food kibble to fruit and nuts, just to see them try it all out. It's great. I wonder if Justine will stick around this summer.

[jules1278.livejournal.com]

I knew they would be! (I've never seen one in real life, I don't think.)

Justine is such a great name!

When I was a kid, instead of wanting to have bunny rabbits and hamsters as pets, I wanted bumble bees and raccoons and lizards. :D

Okay, I did want a bunny rabbit, too.

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

We have bunnies in the yard. And chipmunks and plenty of squirrels. Scrub jays, Steller's jays. We used to have foxes and the occasional bobcat.

Geckos & newts, too!

[(Anonymous)]

hey. that...was poignant and right what i needed to distract my brain from frying up. also, i'm glad i'm not the only one trying to 'translate' whatbirds say to each other.