Cats and Dogs

As 2004 speedily comes to an end, I can think of no better concept to write about than perceived differences. Whenever I think of differences I am always reminded of my beloved dog Alphonso. Alphonso lived to be an old man in dog years and when he was middle aged he formed a very unique friendship with a kitten whose mama did not stick around long enough to teach him the difference between a cat and a dog. The kitten just appeared one morning near Alphonso's food dish and before I could stop him from being mauled by Alphonso he began eating out of the dish. And Alphonso just watched. After he had eaten his fill he did not go away. He laid down next to Alphonso and they went to sleep. Over the next three or four weeks he became Alphonso's constant companion and he was always around. They played together and ate together and Alphonso curled up in a circle and the cat slept in the circle he had created. Just when I thought Alphonso had found a lifelong friend, he began barking at the kitten. Not loudly, but definitely bordering on unfriendly. The kitten stuck around for a couple of days to see whether this was Alphonso's final answer, and when he smartly decided that it was he just disappeared. We never saw the kitten again. Life went on and Alphonso once again ruled the front yard. I suppose there is a moral to this story and sometimes I think I know what it is. There are other times when the moral seems to sadly mirror the differences that we humans have created. At those times I wonder whether we will ever answer Rodney King's plea in the affirmative.


Happy New Year!