Today, my cat is going by Tom, not Tom Tom Kitty, Tommy Tune the Show Kitty or Tommy Tom Tom or any other silly names because he is just in that kind of a mood. Once, when my son got a dog from my father who didn't ask permission from me, Tom ran away from home.


He didn't go far.


My nextdoor neighbor, Sean, loved my mild-mannered Tom and took him in like his own for several years until Sean found out he had cancer and had to move in with his mom and dad.


Soooooo Tom moved back home with us. But our family had grown from just one boy, one set of parents and a dog. We had since acquired Mindy, the cat---And Min, Mindicina, Mins, Rin Min Min did not exactly throw out the welcome mat.


It's been several years now and Tom is content with the front porch while Mindy stares out at him through the front windows in a fearsome pounce posture. If he makes one false move she's got a left hook that can crack a window pane.


The dog, by the way, was named Lucky and resides in the back yard where he chases anything that moves, especially Tom.


You know, I never liked dogs. But after a few years with the Luckster, I'm hooked. Can't say that for Tom, but he abides.