You Dirty Rat

Last July when I last saw my mom before she died, the three of us went to see the animated feature, Ratatouille, which is one of my favorite movies of last year. After I got back home, I talked to her on the phone and she couldn't remember I'd just been there until I reminded her of how we'd gone to see the movie with "those cute little cartoon rats running around the Parisian restaurant kitchen" and it came back to her.

---

On December 30, Lorianne and I met up at the chocolate meth lab Burdicks in Harvard Square, and after leaving we saw rats (not sure Burdick's would like to advertise this) running between the siding of the shop and the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. Honestly, they were very cute (said by someone untroubled by living in rat-infested housing). We tried to get photos of them, but they were too shy, with one little guy peeking out from under the siding at us, waiting for us to move on. Maybe they were connoisseurs of chocolate. Maybe even kitchen staff? Lorianne reminded me, as we watched them in their space under the siding boards, that rats are thigmophilic, that is, touch-loving; they like to press against walls, which give them a sense of security.

---

My mom used to call my untamed hair "that rat's nest" -- for years, even when I was in my 30s. We fought over my hair possibly more than anything else. Screaming sessions as a child when she'd try to get a comb through my just-washed tangles (pre-Tame, the first hair detangler). An instance when I was very young, maybe not even in school yet, when she'd dolled up my hair with big rollers and wanted to show me off in my page-boy flip to her parents. I felt dorky and washed it out. Very bad. What can I say? I was shy and obedient, but something in me wanted to let my freak flag fly I guess. :-)

---

Here in the U.S. tomorrow (late Wednesday/early Thursday) is the beginning of Chinese New Year:  the Year of the Rat. According the Science News, the rat is a misunderstood creature. Not only are they highly intelligent, but they make excellent pets and "can laugh and do so with a high chirping sound when amused." What's more, "Rats can’t vomit," which you have to admit compared to kitty hair balls and dog vomit ain't a bad thing. Of course there's that nasty thing about carrying plague and transmitting it through fleas. But then that's wild rodents and presumably not your average pet rat.

---

The Chinese New Year begins with a partial solar eclipse, at 10:44pm Eastern time, at 17.44 degrees Aquarius. On February 20, we will also have a total lunar eclipse at 10:31pm Eastern time (barring cloud cover, I hope to see this one) at almost 2 degrees Virgo. In astrology, eclipses portend change. There was a solar eclipse on my birthday (in my solar return chart conjunct the IC, the most primal, home-centered area) 10 days before my mother died. Just saying.

---

Since I want to sell my condo this year, maybe I should advertise in Asian newspapers. The Year of the Rat might be auspicious for some home buyers. And my house number -- #88 -- isn't that double lucky? My tenants' lease is up end of July. August, 8th month, good time to buy. :-)

Comments

[Lorianne]

I have no real estate advice; I just wanted to note how ecstatic I am that you managed to work "thigmophilic" into casual blog conversation.

[Leslee]

Heh. You were too early. I also managed to get in about letting my freak flag fly as was doing a quick fix. Thigmophilic - how could I blog about rats without mentioning that? :-)

[Dave]

New word for me. Thanks! Great post.

[Dave]

Wow, this post is already #3 on Google for "Thigmophilic"! You got mighty good SEO.

[Lorianne]

Of course, the rat's nest & subsequent battles over hair! I took a writing class once where one of my favorite prompts was "A history of my hair." It's funny how writing about hair almost always leads you to write about identity, social status, rebellion, and (yes) parents.

I notice the top-ranking Google-hits for "thigmophilic" refer to Robert Sullivan's Rats: Observations on the History & Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants, which is where I learned the word. It seems proper to give Sullivan his due.

And although I exposed you to the word "thigmophilic," I'd never heard about "letting your freak flag fly" until you mentioned it on Sunday & here. I guess I'm not as freaky as my hair suggests?

[zhoen]

So, rats are cuddly? So I have heard from people who have them as pets. I'm not fond of their odor, so I will stick with our cat.

What is it about daughter's hair and mom's control issues?

Will be looking up that lunar eclipse, thanks.

[leslee]

Dave: Heh. How many places can you actually find thigmophilic used? I forwarded the pet rat story around the office, but declined to mention thigmophilic for fear they'd google it and find my blog!

Lorianne: Yeah, I suppose fights over hair aren't that uncommon, for all the reasons mentioned. I grew up in the 60s when men having long hair was a major statement. It's when David Crosby penned the song "Almost Cut My Hair" in which he wonders why he didn't cut his care: "Guess I felt like letting my freak flag fly" - not sure if he originated the term. Anyway, prolly before you were born. :-)

Zhoen: Yeah, someone I work with said she'd once had a pet rat and he was the best pet. Used to ride around on the dog's back, thanks to the dog putting him there. If they're not as allergenic as cats, I should look into it!

[joanna]

I love Burdick's. Yummmm. Chocophilic that I am!

[Lucy]

'Page boy flip', I had my long hair cut into one of them when I was 11, god how I cried, thought it looked awful...

Rats were big favourites as pets in the punk era, I recall.

[Neith]

I was shy and obedient, but something in me wanted to let my freak flag fly I guess. :-)

ROFL!! A better description of Uranus/Moon/Asc in Leo I have yet to see!!! And yes, I'm old enough to remember those days . . . :-D

[leslee]

Joanna: Chocophilic! That's perfect.

Lucy: I think I gave my 'do the wrong name, as it was more a '60s flip - flipped up all around whereas I think a pageboy flipped under. Anyway, yes, hard to bear when you feel dorky in your hairdo.

Neith: Yep. And they all fit right between my mom's Ceres and her Sun. No doubt my independent streak drove her bonkers.

[Lorianne]

fwiw, Burdick's is advertising sets of Asian inspired gourmet chocolate mice in honor of Chinese New Year (the full celebration of which lasts through February 21). Unlike Burdick's "regular" chocolate mice, these special mice have almond ears and come in exotic flavors:

"dark chocolate mice with tangerine ganache, dark with Chinese Tea and milk chocolate mice with a mango coconut interior as well as milk with hot pepper hazelnut interior."

I'm surprised they don't go all the way and call these "chocolate rats" in honor of the Year of the Rat, the symbolism of which they spend some time exploring on their site.

Do you think those rats outside Burdick's were taste-testing the new mice flavors???

[tim]

Okay, enough already! As it happens I had recently watched Ratatouille only to read this post; then today walking from my place to Porter Square on Upland, what do I see scurrying behind the building that's on the corner there but a beautiful brownish rat, like Remy's brother, Emil! Now you're bringing home guinea pigs-- what's next, one might ask!!

[leslee]

Lorianne: OMG, we have to go get some of those!! They sound incredible. Let me know if you have some time...

Tim: Loved that movie. Too bad you didn't run into Emil instead! I think the next rodent I bring home should be made of chocolate, actually. :-D

[leslee]

I tell you what. It won't be a ferret. Holy crap. (Article courtesy of RR, who has commented here elsewhere.)

[leslee]

I tell you what. It won't be a ferret. Holy crap. (Article courtesy of RR, who has commented here elsewhere.)