And No Religion Too

John Lennon's song "Imagine" tends to be played after major world events including this years terrorist shootings in Paris.

So imagine for a moment that no religion existed in the world.  I define religion not as a belief in God, but belief that one must follow a certain set of rules or beliefs to please God or earn your reward.

So imagine a world where spirituality was individual; one could believe in God or not, Gods and Goddesses or not, and it didn't matter what name we called the creator of the universe.  There would be no bible, no Quran, no Torah telling us what to believe.  We'd all admit that none of us have the slightest idea how we came to be and what/if there was a life after this one.

And perhaps most importantly, there would be no need to hate others who had a slightly different set of beliefs from you.

When I was a young adult, I learned in school that the Ku Klux Klan originally targeted Jews, blacks and Catholics.  As I pondered that on the school bus ride home, I realized that if I had been born just 40 years earlier I might have been subject to cross burnings in my yard or worse.  That moment was a defining one for me.  Like others brought up in the Catholic faith, I was taught that ours was the one true religion, superior to all others.  I never imagined that we would be persecuted simply because our membership dues went to the Catholic church.

What's happening in the world today is nothing new at all.  The victims of the persecution just rotate, waiting their turn.  The Salem witch trials, the Catholic Inquisition, the Holocaust, the Crusades; all are historical titles given to times in our past where religion inspired torture and mass killings.

If we could get over the fear of death, perhaps religion wouldn't take such a central point in our lives.  Because in the end, hate is fear, isn't it?  The hate speech in the news these days has nothing to do with facts, but fear.  And if we spend our lives in fear, what kind of life is that?

 

 

What Does Hemingway Have to Do With It?

You may have heard the term "Hemingway Cat", and even knew that it had something to do with Ernest Hemingway, the famous author.

Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West, Florida, and was given a 6-toed cat by a ship's captain in the 1930's.  Cats with extra toes, also known as gypsy cats, were considered lucky by seafaring folk since they were considered superior mousers and kept their balance better on a ship.  Cats normally have 5 toes in front, with 4 toes in the back, and when they have more than that they are called "polydactyl".  Other nicknames for them include "snowshoe paws", "pancake feet", or "big-foot cats".  Hemingway's cat went on to parent many polydactyl cats on his estate, the ancestors of which still live and are cared for there today.

Maggie, a kitten I adopted from The Marshmallow Foundation is polydactly, with six toes on all feet.  She's only six months old, and you can see the size of her paw compared to my hand.



So why are they called Hemingway Cats?  In my opinion, because it's much easier to say than polydactyl!

Nelly and the Six Year Old

Today while volunteering at The Marshmallow Foundation, an animal shelter in Detroit Lakes, I got a phone call from a mother.

"I know our application is still being processed, but we'd still like to come see the cats today if we can.  You see, my six year old son lost his cat about a month ago, and said that he wants a cat or kitten.  Specifically, he wants a black cat or kitten because he knows that they are harder to adopt."

So I sent a note to the adoption coordinator asking if the application could be expedited, since this family was driving all the way from Mayville.  Sure enough, she dropped everything to approve the application, so when the family came in, I happily told them that they could go home with a cat today if they found one that they bonded with.

Two little boys and their older sister came in to the cat room with their parents, and immediately became overwhelmed (in a good way) with the number of cats there.  It was in the middle of kennel cleaning, so several were already running around being cats, so the boys were instantly mesmerized.  I had a cat in mind that I thought would be a good fit, and introduced them to Nelly.  But like, well, kids in a candy store, they wanted to make sure they looked at all of the cats before deciding.  So Burbs was in the running for awhile, as were Peanut and Stud.  Eventually though, they came back to Nelly, and as of today, Nelly has found her furever home.  In the arms of a six year old with the wisdom of the ancients.

 

The Cat's Meow

Interesting fact - adult cats don't meow to other cats.  They only meow to humans!  Tiny kittens, with their "mew", signal to their mother that they want food, but once they leave Mom, they normally won't ever meow again unless a human enters their life.  Instead, cats communicate with each other through scent, touch, and noises other than a meow.

So why do they use it with us?  Simple answer, because it works!  How many cat owners out there will drop everything if they hear their cat meow?  We instinctively know that they're calling for us, and we respond by petting, picking them up, feeding them, or with kitty kisses.  We humans are well-trained!  I also think that because a cat learns to communicate with us, it makes them a lot smarter than we think they are.  Remember, cats rule, dogs drool.

The shelter I volunteer at, The Marshmallow Foundation in Detroit Lakes is having an open house this Saturday, December 5th.  Patriot Assistance Dogs (PAD) is co-hosting the event, so even if cats aren't your thing, come by with your pet for pictures with Santa from 10 am until 3 pm.  We'll also have calendars available for sale.  The calendars themselves, although cute, aren't the cool thing.  $30 will buy a raffle ticket with chances to win prizes throughout 2016.  Prizes are valued between $50 and more than $500, and if your name is drawn for a prize, your name goes back in for another chance!  Prize examples include:

January 1, 2016: Astrostart 721 ($500 value) donated by Webber Family Motors

February 5, 2016: $500 cash, donated by Foltz Trucking

March 22, 2016: $50 Zorbaz gift certificate

May 6, 2016: 2 reserved lawn chair admissions to WE Fest

December 2, 2016: $500 gift certificate to I'll Tile and Stone

Some important rules:

• You must be over 18 years old to purchase a calendar or win a prize


• Checks or cash only


• Winners will be notified on the date the prize is awarded, when you'll receive instructions on how to claim your prize

So come see me and the crew this Saturday.  If you're interested in adopting a cat or dog, fill out the adoption application on the website and submit for approval first.  We take making sure our animals go to a good home seriously, so it takes a few days to get approved.  In the meantime, come on in during normal business hours and meet the animals.   You may think that you want a specific dog or cat based on their photo and bio, but then find that there just isn't that spark of connection between you.  No worries; once you've been approved you can adopt an animal that you truly bond with.  Tell 'em The Crazy Cat Lady sent you.

 

 

Thoughts on Gun Violence

And it's happened again.  At least 14 people killed by armed men bent on destruction.  Again, there will be cries of "you can't take away my guns" on social media.  Lots of memes declaring their compassion for San Bernadino and the victims involved.  Tons of political rhetoric around which party is to blame this time.

I have an opinion, surprise, surprise.  My opinion?  We must do SOMETHING.  We must allow Obama to do SOMETHING.  Even if it turns out to be the wrong thing, we must take the first step towards ending this nonsense.  The same folks decrying Obama's softness on the ISIS situation are the the ones that won't allow him to take action on gun control reform.  The same people who claim the problem is mental health treatment are the ones that don't want their taxes to be spent on treatment facilities.

I don't think the entire problem is gun control.  I don't.  I think it's much more complicated than that.  We have raised an entire generation of kids who feel entitled to a trophy when they didn't win.  We have allowed them to sit all day in front of violent video games until their world view is skewed.

We have taught them over and over again that not all people are created the same, and not all people will go to heaven.  Even I, at my age, remember vividly being told by a Lutheran kid that Catholic's were evil because we "worshipped" Mary.  And after moving to Texas, being schooled by a Baptist that the only way to the Kingdom of God was by being saved in a Baptist church.  And the old "we love gay people, we just think that they are sinners" line.

We seem to have lost the ability to think on our own.  When someone you trust says something, you take it as the truth.  And if someone you dislike says something, you immediately discard it as nonsense.  So education is another problem.  Let's teach our kids how to think, not what to think.  And that's not just in school - parents are the biggest influencers.  Along with the curriculum, we need to provide a healthy meal every day.  We need to teach not only reading and writing, but life skills.  When we graduate high school, we should know how to fill out a resume, interview, do taxes, and financially prepare for our future.

So if I were King of the World?  I'd abolish all semi-automatic assault rifles in private hands for a start.  They belong in the hands of the military or police only.  Don't give me the argument that you have 14 rifles for protection - only one can be used at a time.  I'd tighten up the process to get a gun so that it was at least as hard as getting your driver's license.  Yes, criminals would still have their guns, but guess what - the average criminal isn't the one causing the mass shootings!

I would raise taxes and abolish the loopholes that have allowed the wealthiest to not pay their share.  I would use the money to invest in education, and provide a free college education to those that want it as well.  Mental health would no longer be the taboo it is now; proper treatment would be available and the people who have been living on the streets would be treated with compassion.  Drug treatment would be free.  And, I'd make marijuana legal.  It's my belief that drug addicts are born addicts, and may never try drugs if they weren't so taboo to begin with.

Does my opinion make me a Democrat?  Perhaps.  Remember, Lincoln was a Republican; back then the left leaning party was the complete opposite of what it is today.  So I don't think it makes me a Democrat - I think it makes me human.

And Here We Go Again

As I write this, there has been a report of another "mass shooting", this time in San Bernadino, California.  Here are my thoughts.

1. Why aren't we calling these incidents terrorism?  If they were, perhaps they'd get more attention and drive a solution.  Yes, terrorism has a political motivation.  But the shooting at the Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs has all the signs of being politically motivated, and most of the media is still hesitating to call it what it is.


2. We have a real problem in this country.  What is it that drives human beings to hate enough to kill?  Mental illness certainly could be a factor, but there are disturbed people all over the globe and other countries don't seem to have the problem we do.  Is it poor parenting, or *gasp*, the lack of gun controls?  Before you jump all over me, please note that I'm not stating that gun control is the answer - I'm simply asking the question because I don't know the answer.


3. Any time I ask the question about gun control, I start a firestorm of people insisting that the government wants to take their guns away, or violate their rights to bear arms.  If you ask me, that kind of response is childish; the equivelent of throwing a tantrum in a crowded supermarket.  Falling back on the same old rhetoric just because you saw it on Facebook doesn't do much except raise your blood pressure.  How about suggesting a solution?  We all know what you think won't solve the problem.  What will?


4. I've noticed that the same people who claim that the issue is related to the lack of treatment of mental illness are the same people who don't want their tax dollars to pay for it.

Rant over.  Tomorrow, back to cats.

#GivingTuesday is for the Birds (and the Cats, Dogs...)

Today is Giving Tuesday, a new holiday apparently, where we put our money where our mouth is.  Last Thursday, Thanksgiving, we gave thanks for all of our blessings.  Today, we give thanks and pass it forward.

I'm thankful for Leo and Maggie this morning, both of whom still fit nicely in my lap together, and are helping me with this post.  I adopted them both as kittens from The Marshmallow Foundation in Detroit Lakes after my cat Gracie died at the ripe old age of 20.  They have already provided endless hours of laughter, snuggles, and warmth, and I'm sure will continue to do so for many years to come.

If you want to do your part on #GivingTuesday, but don't know who to give to, won't you consider an animal shelter?  Right now at Marshmallow, an upper respiratory infection is going around the cat room, which means lots of visits to veterinary clinics and lots of medical bills.  Cats Cradle in Fargo is another good option - they take the cats that would otherwise be euthanized and give them the care they need in order to find their "furever" homes.

If you don't want to give cash, there are lots of other ways to give.  Smile, an Amazon.com program, allows you to designate a charity of your choice, and every time you shop, a percentage of the money spent is donated to that charity.

Volunteering your time can make an enormous difference, where that time is spent transporting animals, helping keep the kennels clean, or fundraising.

Donating gently used blankets to a shelter means that a dog or cat has a warm comfy bed for the night.  Even better, if you have mad knot or crochet skills, make some soft mats out of that stash of yarn you have in the spare room!  Mats for Cats will give you some ideas on projects and ways to help.

So today, count your blessings, then count your pennies to see how many you can spare to help.  Every bit counts.