Deadlines and Emotional Support

One of the hardest things about taking a trip is leaving Sophie behind.

I think of her as my Security Animal, but what does that mean? It’s not that she makes me feel secure—in the danger sense. She’s deaf to all but the loudest noises (so thunder is no problem any more). She doesn’t see well—though if a cat runs in front of her she will react. Last week she was barking and I let her out. She continued haranguing that now invisible creature—probably a cat. It was good to see her lively and aroused, her tail held like a banner. But no, she probably would not react if someone broke into the house.

So what is Security anyway? To me it comes down to a sense of belonging, of having a purpose. Sophie’s purpose is to belong to me the same way she belonged to Wayne, when he fed her and made her appointments. My purpose is to care for her for as long as she lives—and miss her afterwards. I love her for who she is and she reciprocates.

So the best security creature, or Emotional Support Animal, is a two-way street of loving and giving.  it’s a good thing she also loves Jane who will be taking care of her. But Jane always tells me she starts watching for my return long before I’m due back.

Deadlines

I love deadlines—and oh, how I resist them. I’ve watched myself, over the years, escaping from that inevitable noose until not quite the last minute.

In this case, I’ve imposed any number of deadlines on myself, all coming due when I leave home for twelve days. There’s the trip itself, the house-sitter instructions, preparing a manuscript for beta readers, packing and worrying about forgetting something, packing Sophie up for a visit to her other home and worrying about forgetting her things . . .

And here I am, amazed at how efficient I’ve been on these last two days. Almost every move has had a purpose. It makes clear how unpurposeful most of my days are.

They say if you want something done, ask a busy person. Well, maybe . . . But I definitely have not been writing. So what is there to measure?

I do hope to return with renewed purpose and vigor. This efficiency simply proves that I’m really leaving home—and I need the break! But it’s hard to leave Sophie behind.