Hello, vials of peppermint oil! It’s Friday, which means it’s once more time for us to gather and perform witchcraft before dusk. JK! It’s Friday, which means it’s time for y’all to spill your guts in our weekly Friday Open Thread and then communicate with one another in a manner which often can imitate “real world” social interaction!
It’s super cute.
I’ve been thinking a lot this week – more than usual, that is – about how much I love Eli, and that’s what’s inspired me today to set a direction for this open thread related to the fuzzy and not-as-fuzzy creatures around us that bring us deep kinds of joy.
You see, I always loved dogs growing up – like, always and forever. I collected books about dogs, dog stuffed animals, and other assorted dog merchandise until we finally got a dog, which came in high school. My entire childhood was spent looking for puppies in the park and searching for dogs at outdoor parties, and now I’m #blessed to own a dog who just so happens to be the cutest, snuggliest monster of his kind. Dogs have always been my ideal pet, especially small ones, and that’s remained consistent over years. Now, I finally have the perfect little guy to prove it.
That isn’t to say, though, that there aren’t other animals I adore: Lions are my ultimate iconic animal, and a continued symbol I use for myself (#LeoStatus). Beluga whales warm my heart. I think beavers are adorable. Birds make me laugh. Monkeys do indeed remind me of myself. And llamas, well, they’re just amazing. Emus, too.
Growing up, though, I found that animal interests were one of the most varying factors across different people. I mean, for starters: cat people. And then there were big dog people who made fun of my chihuahua at dinner. And there were the outliers: the kids who liked lizards and snakes, the girl I knew in college with a deep affinity for the capybara, and the folks who introduced me to their chinchillas when I came over.
So, my fair ‘straddlers, riddle me this: What’s your favorite animal? Or, rather, animals? What do you keep as a pet in your apartment? What’s the exotic beast you dream of taming and watching fall asleep at your feet? If you could cuddle with any bear in the world, what kind would it be? Are you into otters? (Consider this all highly scientific research for future Sunday Fundays.) Of course, maybe you don’t even like animals, and now you’re so far from relating to me thait almost feels as if we’re destined to be strangers for the rest of our lives. In that case, feel free to tell me why you don’t like animals, or really just how your day went, or what you’re eating for dinner, or what you’ll do this weekend while I’m (yawn) home with the family debating coming out one last time. Seriously, tell me everything – and don’t hold back.
As usual, I’ll be rewarding photos of pets with photos of my pet. And if you comment on someone else’s post, I heard an angel will stop crying.
It’s the Friday Open Thread, y’all. Let’s get wild.
