Every day the Universe conspires to teach me lessons I don’t wanna learn. As they say in the movies, “Resistance is FUTILE.” And yet, I still struggle.
Today, my dog was the teaching assistant. Rafferty decided he didn’t want to eat his food. Being a good dog mom, I coaxed. “Ah, come on, Raffie.” Then I threatened. “Eat your food.” And finally, I resorted to unfair tactics. I poured beef boullion over the kibble.
To no available. He licked off the beef and sat down to stare at me.
His desire to eat has not overcome whatever resistance he’s feeling. And yet…and yet…it’s spring and I have hope.
It’s like that with books, too. I keep trying to read Bleak House by Dickens. At first, I tried because I own an old copy, and there’s a deep seated part of me that believes old books are to be venerated. Then I tried because I read a reference to the characters. And finally, I’ve taken a third stab at Bleak (was there ever a book so aptly named?) because I’m doing research on the justice system in Victorian times.
Personally, I’d rather be eating kibble.
I also had a hard time slogging thru Bleak House. I managed to complete it, and I can honestly say it was worth it in the end. Suddenly, the plot appeared and kept me interested!
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for The Pickwick Papers. I’ve started it many, many times and just can’t manage it. Sorry, Chuck.
Gayle Carline (aka GeeCarl)
http://gaylecarline.blogspot.com
Okay, Gayle. Grumble. Rafferty hasn’t eaten his food, but I’ll give Bleak another try.
Godspeed and good luck to you, Joanna. It won’t be easy, it will be an uphill climb, possibly until halfway thru the book, when everyone starts getting sick. Then suddenly all the mumbo-jumbo about lawyers starts making sense somehow. At least that’s how I remember it.
Hope Rafferty eats. Our dog has turned away from his kibble, too, so I hide carrot slices in it and he can’t pick up the carrot without getting a little food with it. I don’t really blame him – between his chubbiness and the pancreatitis, he’s on low-fat, diet dog food. Yuck.
Hey, I can’t imagine eating the same thing every day, so why should I expect Raffi to? Like the carrot slice idea.