Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Redemptions



c..1340, "deliverance from sin," from L. redemptionem (nom. redemptio) "a buying back, releasing, ransoming," from redemptus, pp. of redimere "to redeem, buy back," from re-"back" + emere "to take, buy, gain, procure" (see exempt).

I like the literal translation of the Hebrew word for "sin" which is roughly, "that which does not work." Yeah. Stealing (for instance) really never works, does it? Nor does lying or killing - you know what I mean.

It was a sin to have to share my kitchen with Rat who brought nothing but chaos, destruction and filth along with him. No offense to him, I know he was just doing his thing, but it did not work to share space.

Now maybe I'm jumping the gun here, thinking (hoping) he might be gone. I no longer feel the presence, but I could be fooling myself. This was no dumb rodent who came to visit the chateau, nope. He was a bionic, genius robo bot Rat who I assume escaped from some lab at NIH, based on how smart he was. He outwitted all three of the traps I set. He was able to get to the bait on two of them without tripping the mechanisms. The third trap, called "The Jaw" (yikes) is still baited, sitting right where I left it. He checked it out but surmised it was too dangerous, left it alone. I base this assumption on the location of his hair and poo, right in front of the trap as if he stood there, contemplating the possibilities, perhaps scratching his head (hence the hair). This is the kind of test lab rats are subjected to all the time. Ya know?

That was a few days ago. Since then, I haven't seen hide nor hair of Rat. I'm starting to relax. I will remain vigilant and leave the trap for a few more days, just to make sure. When the people who own the chateau return from vacation, one of them is going to look for the points of entry and seal them tight.

Once that takes place, if I still don't see evidence of his presence, I will redeem the kitchen by cooking a big ole dinner, invite someone(s) I adore to share in the feast with me.

I hope and pray this is the last Rat update, because what I actually thought I was going to write about this morning is the nature of the redemptions that follow battles with the dragons and demons; the beautiful, clear calm that follows those storms.

Can't wait to proclaim that the rat-dragon has been slain or at least defeated. Then I'll be able to think of other, more interesting things. Onwards and upwards! May it be so.

13 comments:

debra said...

This is the year of the rabbit. Maybe the Rat doesn't know it...

Kerry said...

Funny about that trap. Hmmm.

May you redeem your space soon!

Elizabeth said...

This reminds me of the exorsist telling a boring ghost to stop invading my friend's space at a writing colony...that he really ought to know where he was not wanted.....
Mousie lives at our house but that is another story.....

steven said...

the clever rat - takes what it needs and apparently it doesn't need to die yet. mice have been like that for me. taking the bait and growing larger and larger - in my mind and in their bodies - and at my expense. my dad told me that animals pass through our lives for a purpose, carrying messages. i didn't catch the mousey message. steven

Reya Mellicker said...

The Sufi acupuncturist, and a couple of other friends have said the same thing about the message from Rat. I was trying to figure it out when a large eagle (in my mind's eye) appeared. His theory: Rat brings chaos and destruction. OK.

Strike without sympathy, he "said," then move on.

Whitney Lee said...

I love the picture of the head scratching rat you've painted! I'm hoping he's gone for good now.

Vivian said...

peanut butter...they can not pass it up...
he will not be able to get it and run like cheese

Reya Mellicker said...

Vivian the guy who sold me the traps said to bait them with food I actually eat. DC rats know that we humans use PB in the traps. Crazy huh? They are SO smart. Kind of similar to the people here.

ellen abbott said...

I'm guessing Rat looked into The Jaw of death and got the message. Leave and don't come back.

Reya Mellicker said...

I hope you're right, Ellen!

Gary said...

I hope the rat is gone. I have been battling my own (metaphorical) rat the past 10 days by not feeling quite myself due to a cold. The end of a school year is always a difficult thing and I always seem to get sick as I ease into summer. I am hoping one day to learn my lesson and let the stress go in a more welcome manner. We'll see, but for now I am back to feeling groovy.

Pauline said...

Sounds like you're doing all the right things. According to some websites, dealing with rat riddance is a thorough and time consuming process and if rats are in the neighborhood you might not get rid of them all... sealing any possible entry points and keeping food out of reach are the best two preventive policies. Good luck!

Reya Mellicker said...

Gary I'm glad you're on the mend!

Pauline, DC is stinkin' with rats. Our best defense is to keep them out. But Rat seems to have vamoosed - no sign of him again today. Thank God!