This is my daughter Malaika’s cat, Ramsay. He goes by many names; Ramsay, of course, Bubba, Bean, the Kitty Horse, the Cat Dog and other names. Ramsay has a neurological disorder called CH. It makes him a very amusing animal. He is very clumsy. He is called the Kitty Horse because when he walks you can hear his steps. When he jumps up on something or someone, he over compensates and will jump an extra six inches or so just for good measure. When he sits, his front paws are not together and if he tries to look up he falls over! And his tail is as long as his body.

In some ways, Ramsay is more of a dog than a cat. He comes when called, eats dog food when possible, greets Malaika at the door and follows her from room to room. As you can see, he lies down like a dog and likes to chew on Mocha’s bones when he can get away with it. He doesn’t care at all. He is totally comfortable with who he is. And he doesn’t care what any body thinks. He will carefully sneak around Mocha, if you put him down he will get right back up on your lap or the bed. In the morning, I am constantly moving him and my coffee cup so he can get on the couch and look out the window. He will get on the table and counter even if you are watching him. He is not mean or hurtful in any way. Ramsay is just … well, Ramsay.

What if we were all like that, okay with our self and others? What if I accepted myself no matter how much I weighed, no matter how technologically inept I am? What if I accepted you without caring about your tattoos or piercings, your skin color, your religion, your political believes. The world would be a much better place if, like Ramsay, we accepted ourselves and others without question. I’m not suggesting we accept evil or lawlessness. That is not going to make the world a better place. But having an attitude of tolerance, acceptance and love certainly will. So my first goal is to be accepting of myself. My second goal is to be accepting of you. Maybe I am a Cat Dog after all.