feline slipstreaming

This is a lot more subtle than human slipstreaming. It also begs the question - Is the cat conscious of his actions, therefore knowing the name of said deed? Or does it go by another name in his world? 'A rose by any other name is yet a rose', comes to mind.

Feline slipstreaming can be vocal, which is not so subtle really, but may be viewed as simple interference of thought or conversation. It does not appear that the cat is actually concerned with the subject matter at hand, only that attention is now paid to him/her, thus breaking train of thought of his/her person and succeeding in getting fed, let out, let in, picked up or stroked. I have opinions on this matter. If only wanting feeding, letting in or letting out, then its a simple interruption and does not qualify as a bona fide slipstream. However, if said feline wants to join the group for stroking or lap sitting, then he/she will ensure that the conversation now centres on him/her. This is a slipstream. And cats are very very good at it.

Some cats prefer a non verbal approach to slipstreaming. This is so subtle, but highly effective and result is achieved every time. Suddenly appearing on a lap is common, or rubbing affectionately against a leg or two, or even just sitting at one person's feet and staring. Within in seconds, usually, conversation is centred on the cat. Less common, but just as successful, is the art of 'cute'. Bringing a ball into the visual sphere of those talking, or turning a somersault, chasing a tail, even raising a leg up to like private parts, all serve to ensure that conversation will be controlled by a 4 legged furry thing.

I give you Tjak, Prince of Feline Slipstreaming. He is not old enough to be King yet, give him a year. However, in his 10 months of living, he has fine tuned his skills in verbal slipstreaming and no human that enters his sphere is safe.

Non-verbal slipstreaming has not quite been achieved to the finesse of older and wiser cats. This still comes across as a simple interruption, often an annoying one that results in Tjak being removed from the conversation or distracted with one of his toys. I anticipate that he will become more skilled as he matures. I hope so, as his nonverbal attempts at slipstreaming are currently all about attacking our feet.

Queen of the Slipstream strikes again

Me again,
Talking about slipstreams, in their many guises. Tonight, I was Queen of the Slipstream, par exellence! Didn't slipstream myself though, which I think was a good thing. However, in 4 different phone conversations, I slipstreamed friends I have just located after a 20 year absence. Not bad! And only one of them commented that I haven't changed a bit! Now that just shows that he was paying attention 20 years ago too.
Human conversational dynamics are strange and curious things. Always fluid, evolving, and depending on the engagers, intensely creative. I could speak at great length about dynamics between introverts and extroverts on the telephone together, but count on you, my reader, to feel satiated with others outpourings. I could also regale the dynamics between two extroverts, or two introverts for that matter, but the same reasoning for not doing so remains the same. I would rather talk about the magic that happens when two people who really like each other talk on the phone after not talking together for over 20 years.
After tentative beginnings, both friends find the common ground they each remember, and the base energy of their chat changes dramatically. Suddenly, they are making plans to see each other, working out ways to accomplish that, giggling, slipstreaming each other as memories and questions come tumbling out of areas of their minds that have held them in check for all these long years. Transformation takes place in each of them, and although they know that they can now call each other whenever they want, having made contact again, there is an acute reluctance to end the conversation. Little pauses occur as the time goes on, each of them grappling in their minds for another question to ask, another sweet memory to recount, another topic of mutual interest to raise. Neither one of them wants the warm and fuzzy feeling of finding each other to end, but life in their individual worlds is going on without them and they need to come back to that. The magic that is going on will continue even after they hang up the phone, as they will not be able to keep quiet to anyone in their vicinity.
And if those who are required to listen dare to attempt a slipstream - beware!

I slipstreamed myself

A friend once crowned me 'Queen of the Slipstream'. Van Morrison wrote a song with that title. He doesn't know me, so I don't take it personally. There must be two of us. I know I slipstream a lot, its all part of linear thinking, or is that linkear thinking? When one word makes a link in your brain to another word, which takes you to another subject and you find yourself interjecting this new thought to the conversation going on. That's quite ok. What might not be quite ok is finding that in the middle of speaking a sentence, you slipstream yourself, thereby not finishing the sentence at all! I did that. Hmmmm......

A common slipstream

Life is full of slipstreams. You know, you and a friend chatting away on a subject of interest and another friend comes and sits down with you. Right in the middle of your brilliant delivery of most profound thought, he/she butts in and the subject matter instantly changes. You have just been slipstreamed! This common slipstream event is practiced daily by the majority of people living in the world today. Go on, you know you do it, too!