The art of nap taking.

I've been told that, as a child, I was not a good nap taker.  Except for times when I was ill, I don't remember taking naps as an older child, teenager, young adult.  In fact, I did not become an avid fan of nap time until I got up close and personal with a little thing called Cancer.   And Buddy came to live with us.

When Buddy came to live with us, he was about 9 months old and came from an abused home.  He came home with us because, when we went to the animal shelter to meet him, he went from the lady's arms to mine and buried his nose inside of my coat.  The lady from the animal shelter was amazed and decided that Buddy and I had both found a friend.  Buddy was supposed to be a Christmas gift that year for the boys.  We thought that a dog would help them get through my cancer treatments.  As it turned out, Buddy helped me get through my cancer treatments.

I was well into chemo treatments, after 2 nasty surgeries, when Buddy came to live with us.  We had a reclining love seat and that is where I spent a whole lotta my time.  Bruce was on the road and the boys were in school.  It was December.  I wore a stocking cap on my bare head, not a wig, and almost always had a blanket on my lap while I was on that love seat.  When I was tired, which was often, I'd kick the love seat back and go to sleep. 

Buddy was a scrawny little guy that December.  I'm sure that he felt safe and warm under a blanket and on my lap.  I felt pretty safe and warm myself, under a blanket, with Buddy on my lap.  Buddy and I spent that winter, watching blizzards outside, getting through a tough time, and bonding.  We followed that routine through the next several years.  Buddy grew and healed.  Chemo ended and my hair grew back.  I had 5 more surgeries in the next couple of years and Buddy was my nurse.

Fast forward to current life.  Buddy has been with us for almost 5 years.  Chester and JoJo have come to live with us.  Stella and Amis are vacationing with us.  Taltos has been tolerant through all of the comings and goings of different animals over the years.  Buddy and Taltos are pretty good friends.  And the art of nap taking in this house has been perfected.

I kind of got used to naps during the cancer and surgery years.  I didn't have a whole lot of choice.  Like it or not, sleeping in the afternoon was just how things were for me.  It became so routine that, the minute I would sit down and put a blanket on my lap, Buddy was beside me nosing to get under the blanket.  Occasionally we'd graduate to taking a nap in the bed.  Buddy got the idea.  No matter what, you get under the blanket.  And, you get as close to Mom as you can.  Whether it is on my lap, tucked in behind my knees, or snuggled up elsewhere, if I am under a blanket, Buddy is there.

I don't take a nap on a daily basis.  However, I've learned, that if I'm tired, well then, I'm just tired, and a nap is a good thing.  We have a different reclining love seat now, but still the same routine.  The minute I sit on that love seat, and put a blanket on my lap, Buddy is beside me, nosing to get under the blanket.  And, he's teaching JoJo the routine.  JoJo, as curious cats tend to be, has to know what is going on when Buddy goes under that blanket.  So, she noses at the blanket until I let her under.  At first, she would come right back out from under the blanket, most likely horribly confused about the whole process.  Now, she gets it.  It's warm and safe under the blanket and Mom is going to stay right there for a while.  You get to snuggle up and enjoy a nap.  She gets the bed thing, too.  Buddy and JoJo spend most nights, either on the bed, or under the bed, getting as close to me in sleep as they can.

In this house, we've perfected the art of nap taking.  At least some of us have!  A nap is a healing process.  A recovery time.  A bonding.  Buddy and I healed during naps and under blankets.  JoJo came to us as a lost, little kitten, and is finding that snuggling during a nap is a good thing.  I would have taken naps during cancer treatments without Buddy on my lap, but it wouldn't have been as nice.  I could take naps now, without a snuggle Buddy, but why should I?  A nap, for me, is not just a time for rest, it's a bonding with good friends.  It's about teaching the scared or the sick that, sometimes, just a nap with friends, cuddled under a blanket, is a powerful healing tool.  Or, just a brief recovery period.  Either way, in this house, for me, Buddy and I have perfected the art of nap taking.  And I'm blessed.