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Big things in little packages.
Tigger-Poo and Mr. Tribble were rescued as kittens from our local Humane Society. They are members of our family and we affectionately call them our “furry children.”
Many times though I pick up on little things that relate to my professional, horn-playing endeavors.
Concentration & patience
Mr. Tribble has a “fresh water” addiction.
Never mind that his water bowl already has water in it. If a fresh, cold glass of water is within his field of vision he will stoically and quietly stare at it – obsessively, as if he expects it to move. If I thoughtlessly walk away from that glass for more than a few seconds, it would be no surprise to find cat whiskers in it when I return.
Sometimes I have lapses in concentration while performing – I daydream. This usually happens during long tacets or rests. I lose count and then miss an important entrance. In some of the operatic repertoire I perform, long resting periods are part of the job.
On another level, Mr. T teaches me that sometimes being a pessimist or an optimist is irrelevant to an opportunity. Being patient is more important.
The glass is neither half-full or half-empty – it is just there. For Mr. T, it is nothing but wet, refreshing, chop-smacking goodness.
Whining at the food bowl
Tigger-Poo has a similar problem as Mr. T, but his malediction is the “full bowl” syndrome. No matter how many nuggets remain in his food bowl, it is never enough and he is always whining and loudly complaining for more or something different.
Too many times have I caught myself at a job complaining about this thing or that, while I should be thankful for the work that is directly in front of me. As a freelance musician it is a important to be thinking about the next opportunity, but in the meantime it shouldn’t distract me from the joys of the current opportunity.
Take a nap
Cats spend about 20 hours of their day and night sleeping and napping.
Naps are good, especially before playing Wagner or any opera longer than 3 hours.
Have fun; love what you do
Even in middle age, Mr. Tribble and Tigger-Poo love to wrestle and chase each other around the house like kittens. Mr. T has a special affection for his curved scratching post, while Poo likes to smack around his glowing light-ball.
Every day is new with discoveries – for each other and their toys. (It probably helps that cats have poor short-term memory.)
Even when performing Tosca or Marriage of Figaro or Beethoven’s 5th Symphony again for the “up-teenth” time, I should approach as if it where the first time – with fresh eyes and with a child-like wonder.
