The Classic Case of Parent-Pet Separation Anxiety

During this joyous Christmas season, I found it hard to leave Mr. Lento and Mr. John behind.  I get it! To some, they are just a cat and a dog but to me they are my children, and I felt a bit of a parent’s guilt leaving them behind.  I had a whole plan set out for them…I went to the vet and had them all up-to-date on their shots, state registration, and found a sitter.  But the longer I thought about the time away, the less I wanted to leave.  It was almost as if Highway 10 was becoming the dreaded dark woods and it was looming all over and around me, and the trees on the side where developing scary faces, jeering at me, showing teeth and telling me not to go.  Scary stuff!

I then added the days of travel in my head, two days there and two days back! I thought about the misery of driving that long, the potential traffic, the hunger, the stopping to fill up and, of course, my furry babies behind and I just thought it was not worth it! When I envisioned myself on the road, which is something that I like to do when I make a plan, I felt a bit helpless, as if something would happen to Mr. Lento and Mr. John and I would be too far away to respond! That right there was my turning point. 

I felt horrible canceling my plans, but it felt as if a weight have been lifted from my shoulders, and I was finally able to breathe.  Now I can look at Mr. Lento and not feel so defensive.  I could have swear those green piercing eyes were accusing me of abandonment and neglect and knew what was going to happen! Not so with happy-go-lucky Mr. John.  Who is just happy to lick my face, sit by me and get any attention and belly rubs I give him; things went unnoticed with him.  But it was the wiser one, Mr. Lento who kept looking at me accusingly, jumping on the counter and just staring….  He didn’t appreciate my plans….and I didn’t blame him. 

But there’s always next year!…But I’ll think I’ll fly instead, much faster getting there and back.  Now off to plan a small and quick Christmas dinner… XOXO Johanny