The art of compromise
February 14, 2010 at 14:02 Holly, our dainty tabby cat, weighs all of about 7 pounds. Despite her small size, she believes in living large, which is why she is sleeping in Jacques' dog bed.
Jacques is all, "Hey, if you don't mind, I'd like to get in MY bed now," and Holly is all, "I'm in the middle of my beauty rest and not in the mood to move. Go sleep somewhere else."
After sending subtle and polite signals to persuade Holly to move, a frustrated Jacques gives a single sharp bark. Holly licks her paws, curls up even tighter, and IGNORES him. They are like an old married couple.
Jacques is resigned to not getting exactly what he wants (like that hypothetical long married couple), but he's flexible, in more ways than one, and tries to make do with Holly's bed.
*Sigh*
"I'm not sure this is going to work," Jacques says. "I'm a dog, she's a cat! We're so different. We have almost nothing in common! I'm really not comfortable with this arrangement. I'm feeling so REPRESSED. So unloved."
But then, after repeated attempts, Jacques finds he CAN make the situation work. He not only accepts his fate, he embraces it. What he perceived as being so constrictive now has the potential to be kind of cozy. Maybe this arrangement isn't bad after all.
Learning to share. Adjusting expectations. Mastering the art of compromise. And occasionally just SUCKING IT UP.
Everything I needed to know about marriage, I learned from my DOG.
Happy Valentine's Day, y'all.