Am I moving in the direction of becoming an elderly eccentric? You know, one of those white-haired folk like my Grandfather who sipped his coffee out of the saucer instead of the cup? Am I turning into one of those people who don’t care about convention and do whatever they want regardless of how it looks? Maybe I am.
I have taken to napping in my car with my cat. My friends and neighbors know I do this but I don’t care. I would LIKE to nap in a nice sunny bedroom but I don’t have one of those. I discovered that my car, when parked in my driveway, is a delightfully cozy spot. The sun pours in and creates a sauna-like environment no matter what the outside weather is like. I can recline the seat and stretch out quite comfortably. My Mario cat likes to join me. When he sees me head to the car he trails along and loudly lets me know he wants in. As Mario looks for a place to curl up, I adjust the windows so that just the right amount of breeze flows in for maximum temperature control. I usually take my ipad with me so I can check out the outrageous news on Facebook and wonder at the ads that magically mirror the exact thing I have just been searching for on Google. Sitting there scanning the newsfeed puts me in a trancelike state. My cares drift away. It is somewhat of a spiritual experience. The sun and warmth have always felt like a God connection for me. I feel protected and cared for as I learn about the latest scandals in the outside world, which begin to drift farther and farther away. Soon my eyelids get heavy and before I know it I am dreaming about outings with my Mom and Dad and sisters. The past and present flow together in a way that doesn’t happen in wakeful reality. If someone should walk by and peer into my car they might think “There’s that crazy neighbor lady sleeping in her car again.” Mario doesn’t care. He can’t hear anymore so his sleep is not disturbed by passers by. I don’t care either. I am happy finding my bliss where I can, in the simple joy of sun and warmth. I was talking to a friend this morning about the idea of becoming an eccentric in “old age.” We agreed that it was really about discovering the freedom to be who you are, your authentic self. My authentic self likes to take naps in my car.
0 Comments
|
Leslie Masona woman in search of her post-retirement future Guess what! By subscribing, you get notices about the latest Little Old Lady with Cats posts sent to your mailbox!
* * *
The Book Naked Little Old Lady with Cats A collection of Little Old Lady with Cats blogs * * *
WHAT IS A LITTLE OLD LADY WITH CATS - REALLY?
(from an entry posted on 5/1/2015) “I definitely fit some of the characteristics of a little old lady with cats: Retired - check, Single - check, Like to knit - check, Have cats - check. . .I do not want to get stuck in my Little Old Lady persona, however. In fact, this blog is a risk taking experiment in exploring and redefining what I want my retired life to look like.” Categories
All
Archive
June 2024
|