On Perspectives vs Priorities

Quite early Sunday morning our planet was graced with the Orionids, a meteor display left by the remnants from the tail of Halley's comet, a cosmic visitor who passes our way only every 75 years, give or take. It was terribly cloudy when I went to bed but having been awakened in the middle of the night by my son's vociferous invocations declaring his need to go to the loo, I decided to check once more. What I found was, to my delight, a moderately clear sky with a very clear view of Orion, quite possibly the easiest to find of all constellations.


Buck, my dog (the ever-faithful), wanted to be with me but ultimately was far less impressed with the prospect of sitting outside in the chill of the night in order to view the skyscape.



0225:

Me: I can use that chair. I'm glad I dressed at least a little warmly and brought this flannel sheet. Let me just fold it so I can save my keister and still drape some... YEESH! *shiver*


Buck: Here's my nose. Put your hand on me and pet me. Here. HERE!....................hey! Are you even listening?

0240:

Me: OOH, there went one! That was a good one! I expected more... My neck is hurting, sitting this way, but you have to be patient.


Buck: A bunch of my friends are barking over that way. I'd like to go, but you know what? It's cold. Screw that. Here, here's my nose again. Pet me. Then let's stop this nonsense and go inside, huh?

0250:

Me: There went a tiny one. WOW, my neck hurts. This hurt a lot less when I was younger!


Buck: Your neck hurts, doesn't it? You're moving it like it hurts. You know what? It's probably the cold. It's COLD out here. It's in your best interests and mine if we just knock this off and go in. Come on, here I go...

(tick-tick-tick of claws on asphalt, clunk-a-flumpety-flump of wooden stairs being climbed...)


(pause)




0251:
(klumpety-klump of stairs, growing tick-tick-tick of approaching claws)

Buck: I don't think you heard me...

0255:

Me: Was that -- ... I THINK I saw one. I thought they predicted more.


Buck: Sigh... You know what? It's COLD! I'm cold, you're cold... WE'RE cold! HOW are you not GETTING this?!?


Me: Not much activity, but still -- look at those stars!


Buck: Forget the stars. Look at that HOUSE! I just KNOW it's warm in there!


Me: Just think, our ancestors used to stare up at the night sky in almost this very fashion, pondering the meaning of it all. Sitting here at this moment – it’s as though we’re sharing a link across the void of Time itself!


Buck: No, it isn’t. It’s as though we’re outside needlessly and it’s cold. YOUR ancestors built a fire against the cold and MY ancestors came in and made nice in order to ENJOY that fire. Then your ancestors built houses and my ancestors rejoiced your brilliance and stuck around. The only one here who doesn’t seem to know this is YOU.

0300:

Me: This isn’t anywhere near as productive as I’d hoped. I’m glad I didn’t get Luke up for this after all…


Buck: I just know those damned cats are laughing at me…


Me: Maybe I should give it up and go in.


Buck: IN? Did you actually say it?!? YES – IN! Let’s go in! NOW you’re using your forebrain for something more than backward thinking! LET’S GO!

(tick-tick-tick of claws, clump-a-flumpety-flump of stairs being climbed)


(pause)


(Klumpety-clump of stairs, tick-tick-tick of approaching claws)

Buck: (lifting my hand with his nose) Here, I’ll help you… clearly the cold has frozen your ass to that chair.


Me: I guess I’ll let this one go.


Buck: Good, yes that’s good. It’s meaningless, it changes nothing in your life. You know what would enrich your life? Blankets and pillows. I can help you. I can show you the way.


Me: (standing up) Ah, that’s enough of this…


Buck: YES! YES!

(Great, leaping bounds of happiness and klunka-WUMPH of leap up the stairs)


(pause)



0301:
(klunk-a-clumpety of stairs, approaching tick-tick-tick of claws)

Buck: My God, you’re helpless! Should… should I drag you? Come on, THIS way!


Me: Hey, what’s up boy? (rough pet of furry head) You wanna go in?


Buck: YES! There we go – IN! NOW you’ve got it!

(leaping bounds away, klumpety-klump of stairs)



0302:

Me: (stopping to look up, hoping for just one more shooting star) Wow, meteors or not this is one spectacular sight to behold…

(klump-klump of porch, extended pause, steps NOT descended)

Buck: (from around the corner) Um... hello?


Me: (approaching steps) Aw, look at you, mister! You wanna go inside?


Buck: (suspicious stare, clearly worried I’ve finally slipped away into the depths of insanity because how could I otherwise be uttering this insensate babble?)


Me: (opening door) Okay, let’s go in. I guess there’s always the Leonids.


Buck: What’s a ‘Leonid’?