This week I heard a term which really resonated with me. Once again I cannot remember where I heard it, but the theory is that the reason that we cannot see the future impact of the actions or decisions we make today is due to ‘dissociation from our future selves’. So we struggle with visualising consequences. That one blew me away! I have always had issues with making spur of the moment decisions and not thinking about the consequences. I also cannot imagine myself as future Lisa. I can maybe make it to ‘what will Lisa wear on Sunday’ or ‘what will the weather be on the weekend’, but actually envisioning me at 70 years old, or 80 years old? Nope. I can see the alternative Lisa’s however!
When I eat a whole tub of ice cream, I do not consider the middle of the night Lisa who will potentially have a bad stomach. I do not consider fatty boom boom Lisa who is in desperate need of weight loss. My thoughts end at the bottom of the ice cream tub.
Is that disassociation from my future self? Feck knows! But it allows me to understand why my mom is reticent to go to the doctor. But also part of it is ‘if I do not know the truth, I do not have to do anything about it’. It is frustrating, but I can understand it a bit more. For me understanding leads to empathy which helps with communication. This also leads to self understanding which helps with healing.
My Mom gave me 6 bottles of Olaplex No4 blonde enhancer purple shampoo. I only managed to bring back 2 bottles as Norm said I had too much crap. I will bring the rest back next year. No, I am not blonde.
Mom bought it then heard that it turned someone’s hair purple and so she refused to use it, but I was willing to try it. As my hair is now all natural and is not coloured I thought nothing can go wrong. If nothing else, Olaplex is such a brilliant product for your hair, so I decided to try it on my hair. I think it brightened the silver? I am still getting used to my short hair.
I had such a lovely weekend last week. As much as I miss my Mom, it is lovely to be in my own home surrounded by my own things. I know the Buddhist philosophy is that we are not ‘supposed to be’ attached to things, but I love my things. It is so lovely to be on the same continent and time zone as my own kids and grandkids.
Last Saturday afternoon Norm and I babysat little Bree, my youngest granddaughter. It was Wes’ birthday this week and they went to Belly of the Beast who offer a tasting menu for lunch in their intimate 30 seater restaurant.
I spent most of the day outside on their lovely little patio which is under cover and is out of the sun but the lack of walls allows in the fresh air. I alternated between here and inside with little Bree on her mat playing with her mobile.
Bree is almost 5 months old and has started getting little roly-poly arms and legs, which makes us all so happy! She is still so beautiful that she looks like a fake baby, more doll like than your normal red-faced infant. She is such a happy little baby, and is so ready with a smile if she spots you smiling at her. She loves chatting and she goos and coos and makes little bird like purring sounds and shakes her arms and legs fiercely. Bree loved playing with the toys attached to her mobile, she is so determined and will focus on one toy and then she will grab it, bite it or just throw it about. I had such a lovely day chatting to her and telling her how perfect she is and how much I love her. I love unconsciously feeding the grandbabies all of the positive words. She is a strong baby and is not keen on lying in your arms, she wants to be sitting up and looking about. At one point she was tired and getting a bit grumpy so I shifted her perspective and put her up on my shoulder and she spotted the wicker of the chair behind us and was grasping it and exploring it with her hands. She loves new things to look at and is so aware of her surroundings.
I am so happy that we are close enough to be able to give Caitlin and Wes a day out and that I get to spend time with Bree and have a close relationship to her.
But many good things have an equal bad thing and when we got home there was a terrible smell in the lounge and as we rounded the corner of the sofa we found a river of dog poop. Finn had obviously had a dodgy tummy and as he is too big for the cat flap he did what he had to do. Bless his heart, and bless Norm’s heart as he had to deal with it while I walked around heaving.
Sunday I had no appointments or responsibilities and lots of garden goodies to distribute so I pottered about the garden. My Mom had given me a solar windchime with birds that slowly change colours at night.
I also added both the metal birds Lily bought for me at the market a few weeks ago, as well as the little bird lights Mom gave me to some of my big planters of succulents. The colours of the birds go so nicely with the bright blue pots and warm yellow plants.
Regarding the solar ones from my mom, I just expected the little bird on top to light up but the whole ‘stem’ lights up as well. How sweet are they? I love being surrounded by little bursts of light when I am sitting on the patio. This time of evening is when it finally starts to cool off and is just magical with the fairy lights in the trees. I am also moving some of my larger flower pots to the back in order to make space for a second chair on my front patio. I am enjoying this back garden so much now.
I also added some of the little fairy garden things Mom gave me. This little bunny is so sweet!
I love this new little fairy house from my mom. I love the colours, the flower, the ladybug, everything about it!
I planted succulent clippings in all of the teapots I bought for the metal shelf Norm gave me years ago. When they painted the house it was moved from the back wall of the house to the perimeter wall of the garden. Mzudumo will paint it black to go with the house trim. I will keep collecting a few more tea pots to fill it up but this is a good start.
Monday Norm and I were back at work again. Our new cleaner was in for the whole day and the house was sparkling clean afterwards. Mzudumo came on Tuesday but has not painted my shelf quite yet. It is great to be able to help someone by employing them and paying them a decent wage. As Chichi said it is also nice to be treated like a human, not something that all employers do.
It was hot on Wednesday and even hotter on Thursday. It was up to almost 30C (86F) which is hot for us. Or we have gotten used to global warming and no longer know what to expect!
I was craving sushi so Norm popped out to K1 Sushi in Hout Bay to get some tempura prawns and sushi for me.
The weather calmed down on Thursday and we even had a light sprinkling of rain which was lovely.
On Friday I was finally able to collect little Poppy my Pomeranian! She is like a baby bird with a giant afro. Her hair is so long that she looks much bigger than she is.
Finn was very eager when he met her but he has calmed down now and thinks she is his baby. He licks her bottom and her ears.
She now jumps up to fight with him and is very bold! She chased him around the garden to the best of her ability, i.e. ran and hopped around randomly. When he overstepped she growled this tiny little noise at him and he looked startled but he stood back! She cried and howled something dreadful last night, I am sure she misses her mama. We have a puppy pen for her so she gets a respite from Finn and so we can isolate her from wandering off and so we can sleep without worrying she gets into something or tumbles down the stairs. Her pen has her food, water, toys and her fluffy pink bed. She is quite happy there as long as she can see us.
She also sleeps under my desk, sometimes on my feet. She probably feels safe there and likes being connected to her new human.
Today while having my coffee on the back patio where is was cooler, she tried to climb into the table itself but was not quite tall enough to do so. She will be able to do that in a few days I am sure!
This afternoon I am off to a new Women’s Circle. It is across the mountain and we have to go through the toll road but it is a gorgeous drive and it is a beautiful day. Tamlyn is driving and Norm is babysitting Poppy for me.
I hope you all have a good weekend and week ahead. Until next time, Kisses from the Kitten xoxoxox
Kitten in the City 