A Lighthearted Read.

After reading many books based on persecution, world hunger, and the dying spiritual state of the majority world, I was becoming a tad too serious. As my heart became heavier and my thoughts drifted into a place of dread more often than not, my mom suggested that I crack open some lighter hearted literature. She then produced a book called, Dewey-The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, by Vicki Myron.

With hesitation and some reluctance, I decided to take a break from the hard-core books and read the cat book. Apparently, Dewey was and continues to be infamous around the globe. Left in a library drop-box one inhumanely cold night of winter, Dewey put the small town of Spencer on the map. Dewey's fame brought in cat lovers from as far as Japan and people would drive for hours just to take their picture with the Garfieldesque feline. Not only did he beef up the tourism industry for a town hidden by cornfields, but he was the main instrument of healing and counsel for innumerable relationships. I find it incredible that a fluffy pet generated such support and loyalty from a multitude of people all around the world. Individuals as far as New York sent money to help feed the unsuspecting superstar of Spencer, Iowa. Dewey was not your average cat. He only ate the most expensive foods and only for a few weeks at a time before he would decide that he was ready for a new flavour to satisfy his picky palate.

From what I understand, Dewey suffered from a chronic case of constipation that eventually killed him, so I'm willing to cut the lynx some slack. Besides, he was a goodlooking cat (see photo) and seemingly special when compared to his reclusive, stuck-up relatives. I just hope that these same people who so fondly expended their energy and finances to embrace and feed a cat are aware of the more pressing needs of world hunger and acute destitution that encroach major parts of the globe. With about $40 million being spent on pet food today and only $5 million on food aid (in Europe and the USA), I doubt it. (see real time statistics from stopthehunger.com)

So much for some light reading.