Wednesday, October 16, 2013

The edge is wearing off


The relentless Now of an animal's life can make living with a distressed creature almost unbearable. There is no comforting them. There is no tomorrow, no explanation, only the tyranny of the present.

But on Day 3 in Harlem, the cat has begun to find his bearings. He no longer huddles behind the bathroom sink, where I put him the first day while the movers were still busy and to which he returned at every new affront. He no longer slinks desperately to a corner when he hears footsteps overhead. He does sleep on the bed, which he has not done in years.


Last night he ate supper with us on the new terrace. Live gospel music pumped out from a nearby building as we licked our fingers, sticky from the ribs I had grilled on our first fire. The unusual flames had brought people to windows. I am used to living in utter privacy in my garden space - this is very different: Lights, camera, action. I should buy movie-pajamas, for my morning coffee, and those '40's sunglasses. Maybe I should take to drinking those photogenic Bloody Mary's.

We are inching along, in terms of settling in. Curtains would be nice. So would a nice, comfy chair, a kitchen island and another four kilims. But for now we hit pause while I find and prepare some Ginger Ale Hams (see November, in the book) for a big Abrams book party in Willamsburg on Thursday (I bought smart black high heels, and everything). Vince and I will transport the pig/s (if I can find them) from Harlem to Brooklyn by cab and carve them for 300 guests. Wish us luck.

And then we will unpack some more boxes.

19 comments:

  1. Good to hear things are settling down! Moving is traumatic to say the least. Even if not so private your new terrace looks quite nice!

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  2. I agree with Jack. Poor puss - cats don't take kindly to change but soon he will be revelling in all that extra space no doubt. Enjoy the party.

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  3. Nothing like cooking a bit of meat on the braai to make Don Estorbo start to feel at home. Sounds like a very different beat to the new neighborhood - some good and perhaps some bad. I suspect it will be fun joining the blend and making new friends. (The guy upstairs sounds like a winner - hope that proves true.)

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  4. We too are facing moving our cats. It's been about 4 years since our last move. I know that they're going to love their new home and it's wilderness garden, but I fret about the distress of a new environment!

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  5. Ooh yes, some movie star pajamas, a nice silk bathrobe and some mules. Good luck with the pigs and the party!

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  6. Oh my! Pigs in a cab? You're a brave one. Glad to hear Estorbo is settling in. Maybe a canopy?

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  7. Wasn't it Katherine Hepburn that had the blue silk two piece pjs in some movie or other?

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  8. Such a fun little peek at your new terrace, and I'm glad to hear that your cat is settling in. :o)

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  9. Put butter on his paws! Will settle quickly :)

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  10. Oh Estorbo, we wish you happy times from the UK.

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  11. Hola, hermano! We think you look pretty good, keeping an eye on your new world.

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  12. By next week he'll be ruling the block, promise. Those boxes are another story...

    Ginger ale pig? When? it's only a 3and 1/2 hours train ride...

    xo J

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  13. Beautiful cat photos!
    Greetings, RW & SK

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  14. Cats and humans are not all that different in their stresses ... cats just manifest it in a more visible, tangible way. Humans slink and hide and cry, too, just not where people can see it. It sounds like all of you are settling into your new home.

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  15. Marie, I am glad that Storbo is getting used to his new space , love the little that we can see of your new garden , can´t wait to see it in all its splendor :)

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  16. Terrace looks positively spacious from the little glimpses you have given us. How exciting!

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  17. Forgot to mention: loving the book.

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