Attachment

From Robin, 10 January 2006

The more I learn about attachment, the more I marvel at it. A young handsome high-cheeked-boned male (at Ein Gedi, the 50-year-old kibbutz-run resort in the 3000 year old oasis) rubbed up against us, begging for cream. We petted him in the right way, in the right places, and gave him intermittent cream reinforcement. Hours later, he found us at our rooms, and asked to come in. Within an hour, the attachment was complete. We knew how to respond to him. He knew how to respond to us. Thousands of cat generations have evolved to give us the responses that we craved. We named him Mooch. He learned his name. He came by the next morning and the next night and the next morning. The law of attachment says that whoever attaches will grieve the loss. I miss Mooch. I imagine, for at least a day, he will miss us.