My panda compulsion in print
Many months ago a little publication called 400 Words sent out a call for true stories of personal compulsions (all of 400 words or less). Oh boy, I thought. I have compulsions! And then I settled on submitting the one I was fairly certain they had not gotten before: my panda cam viewing compulsion.
During his early months at the National Zoo, I watched Butterstick (Tai Shan) the baby panda every day on panda cam. Often I would check the site more than once an hour, every day. His fuzzy face captivated me. It also had a soothing effect unlike anything else I can compare it to, except strong prescription pain drugs. Butterstick lowers my blood pressure. They should prescribe him to people with rage issues. No one can be angry while watching him tumble about.
So the Compulsions issue of 400 Words came to print and I got my issue. Since then the 'stick has gained about 70 pounds and he now subsists largely on bamboo, not mother's milk. I don't watch him on panda cam as often, but when I do I still get the same rush of endorphins. Butterstick makes me happy. As compulsions go, it's pretty tame, and a damn sight better than smoking.