Episode 275 – The Evolution of Quality Human- Animal Interactions

The next three podcasts deal with something that we can’t see, hear, smell, taste, or feel  that affects all of us: time. Eavesdrop on any conversation or recall any of your own and chances are you’ll find the word “time” in there somewhere. Perhaps because I’m old (but I prefer to think because I spend so much time working with animals) I prefer analog watches and clocks to digital ones. I agree that digital time is more precise—but only if the time-keeping device is properly set in the first place. If not, then it’s precisely wrong.

Aside from that, I find it somehow more friendly when people answer  “About a quarter to two” or “About half-past six” in response to the question “What time is it?” compared to “One forty-four” or “Six thirty-one.”

And lastly, running late for an appointment seems so much more painful when a watch or clock flashes those exact seconds and minutes to remind me just how late I am. Knowing the person expecting me may use a similarly unforgiving time device doesn’t help.

But for as many time-keeping devices as now flash or wink at us from our wrists, laptops, notebooks, smart-phones, and walls, that doesn’t change the fact that experiencing quality interactions with the animals in our lives does take time.