Monday, January 19, 2015

The Primary Difference

     My son is a teenager now and I find myself entertained more and more by he and his friends.  They are coming up with their own ideas and opinions and developing into the people they are going to be the rest of their lives.  One particular friend of his, Jordan, who is 18, has us laughing all the time.  However, we were disappointed when he told us that he hates cats.  Hates cats?! "Why, Jordan, why?" we asked.  Cats are important in this pet-loving family.  This aversion to the feline species has always been difficult for us to comprehend.  But, that is just how it is with some people.  I have met more than one person in my thirty-seven years of life who profess to hating cats.  Oddly enough, they are usually the same people who wholeheartedly love dogs.  Well, Jordan explained himself to us in this way:
               You feed, clean up after, and care for a dog, and he thinks you are God.
               You feed, clean up after, and care for a cat, and he thinks, "I must be God."

     Hmmmm....he has a point.


(This was written by my daughter.  She also wrote the poem from the last post.)

Dogs in the Family vs. Cats in the Family

Our beloved dog
Is predictable
Is happy to see us
Tail wagging
Whole body wriggling
Can't contain his joy
--always
 
Our cat
*might* acknowledge us
*might* glance our way
Or not
May come up for a pat
May possible respond to a toy
--but not always
 
Some cats
I have known
Run to us in greeting
Utter a burp or meow
Rubs her whole body against us
Even wags her tail (though a bit lazily)
--but not always
 
Who can predict when the cat
Will feel like being sociable?
Or when she will be *above* us
We are beneath her
A cat tolerates you
A dog worships you happily
--always
 
I think cat lovers prefer cats
Because of the challenge
They enjoy the gamble
That is what is unique
And those who like dogs best
Simply won't put up with the unrest
 
 
-Karen Gillespie