It sucks that we can't have the physicality of being there to combat the loneliness, to say, "I'll be right over." But it makes up for it in other ways, in skipping right over geographic boundaries and time zones so we can be together wherever.

It seems unlikely to me that we would have become so close if we had started out as friends without geographic boundaries. It is in part because we were blinvisible, posting with or without undies, that we are sometimes able to share our hopes, fears, and inner thoughts. I know I have shared with my friends here things not shared with my friends in meat space.

More concisely, I am so very grateful we are here for each other in this space. Also, I would totally jump on a plane and offer aid and comfort if possible. Buffista Island would be so helpful.

he's completely inaccessible behind the sofa. We could move the sofa, but it would be a big job and he'd get very scared. I'll see how much longer he stays there, but he is at least coming out to eat and use the litter tray now. It's progress

Oh, I think the fact he's coming out to eat and use the litter box is really excellent progress!

When we brought Taz home, he also would camp out behind the sofa for significant periods of time- and would come out, explore some, and then run back. Rinse, repeat. Eventually he was out and about more than behind the couch, and then the couch only became his Fort of Solitude when he was in a really weird mood, or if we needed to pill him, or something.

Sweet Merlin will get there, too, I promise. And I represent the universe by saying THANK YOU so much for taking in someone's beloved pet companion after she passed on- my heart breaks for pets whose owners have died.

Oh, I think the fact he's coming out to eat and use the litter box is really excellent progress!

I agree with Nora, that sounds like excellent progress to me.

And I represent the universe by saying THANK YOU so much for taking in someone's beloved pet companion after she passed on- my heart breaks for pets whose owners have died.

So much this.

Hope life looks brighter today, Sean.

Man, that headache (almost certainly muscle tension-induced) kept me up past 1 am. Not enough coffee in the world right now.

I represent the universe by saying THANK YOU so much for taking in someone's beloved pet companion after she passed on- my heart breaks for pets whose owners have died.

It was for exactly that reason that when we heard about Merlin and how hopeless his situation was looking, we couldn't say no. Also, he is freaking adorable. As soon as I can get near enough to take a picture, there will be far too many.

Thanks, Nora - good to know someone else's cat did this!

posting with or without undies, that we are sometimes able to share our hopes, fears, and inner thoughts. I know I have shared with my friends here things not shared with my friends in meat space.

yep. I agree with this.

ibid

Also, morning! MOAR COFFEE.

This morning I got hit with the intermittent "I don't deserve to have things, I should take up as little space in the world as I can, I'll be dead in 20-some years anyway and someone will only have to throw it all out" thing. It is sometimes a struggle to convince myself that I have as much of a right to be present in the world as everyone else.

Also, he is freaking adorable. As soon as I can get near enough to take a picture, there will be far too many.

YAY! I want to see.

good to know someone else's cat did this!

It's a coping mechanism- he's been through a tough situation as of late and needs some significant time to adjust. He will be OK though, with time and love. He'll come out when he's ready.

good to know someone else's cat did this!

Oh, my, yes. Typical cat reaction. My ex-girlfriend once brought home a fluffy gray cat, who immediately found a hole behind the stove we hadn't known was there, and ended up between walls, hiding underneath the bathtub. There was no way we were getting him out of there until he was good and ready. He would sneak out at night for food and litter box trips. In a few days he decided we weren't Internet axe murderers and we found him sleeping on the bed.