Day 1211 Wild Cat & Santa

Santa has made his debut and taken his prominent place on top of my desk… Christmas cheer has now officially begun! Last year, when I posted a photo of my Santa, my friend imagined him to be huge, and was surprised when she visited and discovered he’s just a tiny little tabletop Santa holding a nightlight. This little Santa has been with me for my entire life, and each year I’m amazed that he’s survived another round of storage.

Last year my mom rewired him, his old 1950s wiring was very much in need of an update. Next to Santa are a couple of trolls my son brought me from various trips, along with a small box that holds an oyster shell… reminding me that the world truly is my oyster. Family photos, a 1970s Rachel nightlight, and an original painting from a friend complete the scene. These are a few of my favorite things!

My tiny treasures make me smile every day as I pass by them; I just wish I had more time at home to enjoy them all. I had an exceptionally long day today, out of the house first thing in the morning and not returning until almost 9 p.m., far too late for me! Tim was in charge of afternoon chicken care and offering food to the cat, who is still eating but hasn’t come out yet. Tim isn’t optimistic that she’ll ever settle in, but I see good signs: she’s eating, using her litter box, and she and I even shared a brief moment of eye contact when she emerged to eat. Progress.

I do wish she’d come up from the dirty old basement, but for now, that’s where she feels safest. Her calming diffusers arrived, and I immediately plugged it into the basement outlet, fingers crossed. I’m not sure how it all works, but at this point we’ll try anything to help her settle in. I expect that once she gives us the illusion of being comfortable, she’ll start watching the door for a chance to escape, so we’ll have to stay on high alert. She might truly be my Barney Beagle: wanting to be left alone while she adjusts, and I’m so busy she easily gets her wish, somehow the two of us are a match....me and my wild cat. 

I guess I like independent creatures, chickens and cats suit me perfectly. One of these days I have a feeling she’ll venture out of the basement and discover a house full of holiday cheer and new things to explore. We all need time to adjust to new surroundings; she just may need a bit more than usual. The rule is 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months for milestones, but for her, I’d stretch that into 9's… if we’re lucky.

As the season settles in,  I appreciate that patience, warmth, and a few tiny treasures can make even the longest days feel lighter. Here’s hoping that by Christmas, our shy little newcomer will feel just a bit more at home, just like we all do when Santa comes out. 

“The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” — W.B. Yeats