The awesome power of a bored brain
In 11 days, Bob and I leave Maui with no plans to return. A couple of days ago, I came across a road kill rat during one of my walks. It surprised me, not because I have never seen road kill, or dead rats, or even road kill rats, but because I realized this was the first road killed rat I had seen during my four years on Maui.
I tried to place the memory of my last road kill rat and realized it was on one of my last walks before leaving Guam (with no plans for return.)
I’m not sure what it means, but this morning I stepped out the back door with a full laundry basket and nearly stepped on a very large dead rat.
I am pretty certain this morning’s rat was an offering from the neighbor’s cat, ZZ. Strangely, we have lived here for 18 months and she has never given us a rat before.
What does it all mean? I offer a few possible explanations:
a) I sense the imminent end of my time in this place and am therefore more apt to notice the dead things around me. Why they happen to be rats is a mystery.
b) As the pace around us cranks into a frenzy of pre-holiday shopping gridlock complete with road rage, I feel like we are rats leaving a sinking ship.
c) This week’s rat sightings were triggered by the photos my sister-in-law, Debbie has been sending of their new pet rats.
d) ZZ senses our departure and wanted to give us something for the trip.
e) ZZ knows us better this year and with winter coming on, decided to give us a little something extra to eat.
f) I have an over-active mind. As someone recently said, “You think too much! You need to get a life!”
