Animals.

I love animals. Always have. I do eat them, though. That’s one reason I love them. First pet I recall having were a few snails. My Grandfather came strolling down the street with a burlap bag full of snails flung over his back … for eating purposes, actually. He gave me a handful and I kept them as pets. That would put me at about 3 years old. I also, years later, had praying mantises. Brought a cocoon in the house that I had found in the backyard, put it in a jar with some twigs & leaves, and punched holes in the lid. They hatched. Then there were tiny little praying mantises all over the house. My parents loved me, for some reason. Anyway, I have been thinking of all the animals I have had in my life — snails, praying mantises [is that the correct plural?], lady bugs, ant farms and fire flies. Various aquariums & terrariums full of tropical fish, goldfish, frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, lizards, snakes, turtles. I had parakeets and, I think, a canary. Ducks & chickens. Many dogs & cats. Mice and hamsters. Pigs, rabbits, goats, cows, and a pony. I hope I didn’t leave any out. I always wanted a monkey when I was a kid; never got one. All those animals, and still, it gives me a thrill every time I see a wild animal in the forest. God’s creatures. But, I do eat them. 🙂