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I have thought of my personality as that of a black leopard for as far back as I can remember reading novels. When I was in 3rd grade, I found a book in the library about a black leopard. The book was fictional and the main character was an orphaned black leopard. Everything about that wild cat reminded me of myself with the exception of being orphaned. Instead, I was lost in the middle of a very large family. I was the oldest boy, but the 3rd child of eight.

I even began to call myself the Black Cat in our local boys' club. Nobody ever questioned it or wondered why. It just fit me. Even though I was the smallest boy in that club, I was the unquestioned leader of the group. Why? I think it had a lot to do with my willingness to make decisions and stick by them even at that tender age. The other reason was my imagination. I was able to come up with interesting things to do on a daily basis. I never wanted to do the same thing two days in a row, so came up with new adventures almost every day. The other guys liked that.

Now, 35 years later, why do I still sometimes think of myself as the Black Cat? Let's talk about some real cats for a minute. Admittedly, I am not talking about wild cats here, but the two domestic cats that I have are not typical house cats either. They are a mottled black in color. One is named Midnight, the other is Shadow. They are sisters from different litters. Both were runts of the litter, unique in coloring from any of their littermates, and have very unique personalities compared to most house cats I have been in contact with. I saved them both from being destroyed, which gives us a tie to each other.

The things not unique about them as house cats are that they have a very independent nature, but love to be cuddled on their own terms, are natural hunters, and are able to take care of themselves, but prefer to be assisted in that endeavor all very much like me. They are also a bit obsessive about their appearance, like things to be kept in order, and keep themselves quite clean again very much like me.

Now let's discuss the unique things about them as house cats. They do not seem to have a favorite person in the house, they do not act tame, do not allow themselves to be held in an embrace hardly ever, and they do not lie around doing nothing very often. All these things describe me pretty well also.

When I look either of them in the eyes, we typically have a stare-down. I often wonder what is going through their minds when this is happening.

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