Other People I Have Known

Most of the “animals” listed in the index were “mine”, if you can ever really own an animal. Others were with other people, but were notable all the same.

I suppose you noticed that I put the word animals in parenthesis. That was intentional. I know I’m Pagan and perhaps that tempers my view of the animal kingdom, but animals have always just seemed like people to me. Oh, sure, they can’t do the things that would make them human, but they’re still people. They have personalities. Emotions. Needs. Desires. Anyone who has ever had a cat cuddle up to you when you were feeling down knows exactly what I mean about animals being more than just beasts. Anyone who, in that same state of mind, has had a dog sit there are stare at you, whining because it knew something was wrong, well, you know what I’m saying.

There are a lot of links here, I know. I don’t expect you to wade through all of them. They weren’t really put here with the expectation that people would actually read them, though you’re welcomed to if you would like. For the most part, these pages were put here as my way of honoring these souls I’ve known, who have affected me in one way or another.

Of all my relationships in this lifetime, those with animals have made the most lasting impression. They do not judge you. They trust you without reservation (unless you give them reason not to). They love you without conditions and parameters.

I could go on and on. But I think most “animal lovers” know what I’m trying to say. In short, some of the finest people I have ever known weren’t human at all. But they were human in every important way.

The list is compiled chronologically. Compiling it in any other way would open the door to favoritism. And they deserve better than that. I suppose I could compile the list alphabetically, but that doesn’t seem right, either. In many ways, I can mark my development into an adult by the animals I have known. They have come into my life at various times, and in some ways they have helped me through many crisis.

Chronological will do just fine. After all, that’s the way they came into my life.

I apologize to those who think such a web page is silly and frivolous. All I can say is “so what?” That is your opinion, and, well, we all know what opinions are like. If you have never felt a kinship and at least some level of understanding with an animal, I can only pity you. Perhaps some day you will stop looking at them as animals, and stop treating them as if they are background furniture. If you ever stop talking down to them and honestly see them as your equal (as they truly are in the general scheme of things), I think you will be surprised to discover that there is, indeed, a person there.

Maybe then you’ll put up your own web page.

- Wicasta Lovelace

last updated by Wicasta - May 02 2008