Oct 20, 2008 Monday

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I had always liked the idea of working at home, and now that I'm doing it, I've discovered an inconvenience that I had never anticipated. No one to talk to. In most jobs you have co-workers with whom to share ideas, complaints and life's stories. Conversation is an art - a symbiotic relationship that guides everyone through his/her day.

So I've taken up chatting with Hunky and Dorie. They usually spend their afternoons napping in my vicinity, and I will occasionally vent to them about some stumbling block I've encountered, or some obstacle I've overcome in the course of my workday. Hunky tends to listen with closed eyes, although his ears are trained in my direction, but Dorie will hold her head up and look directly at me while I'm talking to her.

What do they offer in return? They usually start their day by chasing each other around the house, back and forth, up and down the stairs, eventually ending up in a wrestling match. For some reason I rate that as superb entertainment. They're having fun and are secure in their surroundings. Then they relax in my presence to share my day.

Dorie will sometimes talk back. She seems to respond to "how are you?" with two distinct meows, one which means "I'm fine, thanks," and another that says "feed me." That's about the extent of her vocabulary so far. But it's a start.

The art of conversation lives on.