Re"cat"itive, Purr-relude, and Aria

The real musical critics in our house are our two felines, Panda (age 4, male) and Lucia (age 5, female). Panda came to us through my sister Kelsey, and was our first “joint purchase” as a married couple. Lucia came to me from friends at Eastman, and was part of my marriage “dowry” (ha ha).

Both of our furry friends are obsessed with listening to us practice. If they are in a particular mood, they will pay a visit to our visiting students, my coaching clients, and friends and colleagues who grace our home with their beautiful sounds and spirits. This website has an interesting point of view about why, and how, cats purr.

They are also quite adamant and vocal about when they are fed their “wet food,” how often their box is cleaned, and if they would like to snuggle with us in the master bedroom or on the sofa.

In the past, I think I’ve measured too many things that don’t matter. Today, I had a great, long quality “kitty snuggle” with each cat, and that "has made all the difference" (with only slight apologies to Mr. Robert Frost). 

Here’s to 2018, with many kitty snuggles, moments savored slowly, more meals and quiet time with Zheng, mindful artistry, more fun, more books, prayer, and surprises. 

Wild, part 2

I would be remiss if I didn’t continue my post from almost a week ago. There are other things to write about this week, but I must finish this idea. 

In thinking about the remarks and feedback I got, the underlying statement which I am choosing to read is:

“Please, when you are newly married, or when you decide to get married, don’t get rid of anything that is quintessentially you. Don’t stop traveling, playing, performing, reading, discovering …” 

Of course not. Let’s think about how Zheng and I met …

While traveling, in order to play and perform with one of the top violists in the United States, and while I was over there, I was writing (the single most-populated category on this blog is still China), and discovering an entirely different world.

So you see, my husband and I met while I was simply “doing my thing.” 

(If I could have a dollar for every time I really worried about my romantic life before hitting 30, I could retire tomorrow).

Zheng and I met when I was on the wildest trip of my life. I don’t see things morphing into the barefoot-kitchen-vacuuming-hairbow stage ever, and definitely not soon.

I will now share the sweet story that prompted this subject in the first place. Zheng and I were off most of last Sunday together. We played church together, and then I was free until 7:30 PM. 

After taking a nap, and then starting to prepare dinner, Zheng asked me what I was going to do next.

“READ!” I said with such reverence … 

So I took some tea into our bedroom. The cats followed me in. I started reading on my Kindle, interestingly, “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed. (I highly recommend this book. It’s really beautiful). 

Enter Zheng, with his iPad mini, proceeding to set it up to watch something … meaning make noise, meaning destroy the beautiful reading silence and disturb the sleeping kitties snuggled at my feet.

Absolutely not.

I told him that if was going to snuggle next to me and watch, he had to put earphones on. He protested. 

I assured him that I was serious, and that he could go watch TV out in the den, or else use the headphones. He acquiesced. 

See … I haven’t lost any spark or fire. I’m lucky to have a spouse who understands this. 





 

Leaving Pennsylvania

Zheng and I feel blessed that the holiday was so restful. We are headed back north, amidst snow-covered scenery and cuddly cats (well, the cats get raucous at times in the car).

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."

- Edith Sitwell

PHOTO: Snow-blanketed, childhood home.