The brain is a poorly understood organ

[substitute]

List of things I do that have no point or rhyme or reason or meaning but are compulsive and necessary:

• Say “you are the cat!” to the cat, often
  
• Count while peeing as if the number when I finish is significant
  
• Rest one hand on the gearshift while driving although I have not driven stick for many years
  
• Look at pretty girls
  
• Continue through a story doggedly even when I realize everyone has heard it
  
• Shake a bottle of pills slightly before taking one
  
• Spin the vinyl backwards when putting a vinyl record on a turntable
  
• Get up every day and live my life in the absence of evidence that it’s meaningful
  
• Take a toothpick from the restaurant front counter
  
• Try to repair damaged friendships
  
• Bark at dogs
  

Comments

Swiss Family Muridae

[eyeteeth.livejournal.com]

I frequently inform animals of their animal type. I especially say "You're a rat!" to one or the other of my rats very frequently. (Or to both of them, in a weird croon, "Rodents!" or even "Family Muridae!") It's like it's amazing to me each time. I'll probably do the same to my niecephew when he or she is born. "You're an infant!" Or perhaps even "Hominid!"

Why do we do these things? They're so common that I feel some kind of ancient genetic programming may be involved. When we were Neanderthals, surrounded by natural perils, did we have to do constant baby inventories? Did the need to make sure the baby hadn't been eaten by a Tasmanian tiger or something turn into this weird compulsion to inform animals of their phyla?