Don't Get Me Started with Linda Sharp

The Death of Acceptance

Leelah Alcorn was a beautiful HUMAN BEING.

Leelah Alcorn wanted only what we all want - to be loved, to be accepted, to be happy.

Leelah Alcorn was denied all of these things.

Leelah Alcorn is now dead.

But while her death is the result of anguish fueled by a lack of acceptance, perhaps her death may also spur on needed conversations, changes of mindsets, and the turning away from those tenets that diminish a human being.

If Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter are any indication, Leelah is achieving in death what she should have never had to fight for in life.

Acceptance.  Love.

This is Leelah.

Wait, you say, she looks like a boy.  Yes, yes she does.  Leelah, born with the name Josh, came into this world with the external components of a male.  But she was also born with the inner components – heart, soul, feelings, certainty – of a female.

Leelah was transgender.

Leelah wrote in her suicide note (in its entirety below) that she knew from the age of FOUR.

FOUR.

Sadly, instead of growing up in a household where love of the child came first, her parents rigidly held onto their religious indoctrination instead of rigidly holding onto their precious child.

When I was 14, I learned what transgender meant and cried of happiness. After 10 years of confusion I finally understood who I was. I immediately told my mom, and she reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn’t make mistakes, that I am wrong.

The only thing wrong here is the reaction of the mother. 

My mom started taking me to a therapist, but would only take me to christian therapists, (who were all very biased) so I never actually got the therapy I needed to cure me of my depression. I only got more christians telling me that I was selfish and wrong and that I should look to God for help.

A child should not be told to look up, they should be able to confidently look straight ahead at their parents who should look straight back with nothing but love, protection, security.

Leelah’s life was made a living hell.  In an attempt to move towards some type of transitioning, she came out as gay in her school. 

Although the reaction from my friends was positive, my parents were pissed. They felt like I was attacking their image, and that I was an embarrassment to them.

Parents – your “image” has nothing to do with who your children ARE.  You do not get to order some perfect little Christian robot from a catalog.  And the only embarrassment to be had here is what Leelah should have felt for having parents like this.

They pulled her from school, took away her phone and computer, completely isolating her from her friends for the next five months.

Yeah, because that will help, parents. 

Here’s a better approach, isolate yourself from the religion that dictates you revile the child you bore. 

Unable to bear the life in which she was trapped, the parents with whom life had saddled her, and the complete lack of support, security, or hope – Leelah wrote the below suicide note, loaded it to post on her Tumblr account, and this past Sunday morning - roughy 230am - jumped in front of a semi-truck, ending her life, but beginning a dialogue.

Her final typed words were:

My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say “that’s fucked up” and fix it. Fix society. Please.

Leelah, as a parent who loves her children more than anything in the world, I can completely agree with “that’s fucked up.”  It is.  And I am sorry. 

I am sorry that society failed you.  Society will catch up, evolve, become enlightened.  It will.  Just not in time to save you or so many others like you who are drowning in rejection, revulsion, rebuke.

I am sorry that your parents cared more about their image and the bullshit doctrines of their church than about you.  I belong to the Church of My Children.  In my church there is unconditional love, complete and total acceptance, and a willingness to lay down my life in order that every one of my offspring may live theirs fully, completely.

I am sorry that the world will never reap the riches of your artistic talent.  You had a gift.  I have a child with the same and I thrill inside every time he shows me something new, something unique that lived inside him that he pulled out to share with others.

I am sorry that death was the better option to continuing the life you were being forced to live.  That I am most sorry for.

To you, and every young person struggling like you did, I loudly say:  THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU.  N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

All of the wrong falls at the feet of those in society who cannot accept anyone who is not like them.  The wrong lives in churches and tenets and doctrines created by man, created to control by fear.  The wrong lives in the hearts of your mother and father who chose that fear over bravely standing up and embracing the unique gift of their child.

It is all well and good to tell you “It gets better.”  And I promise, it does.  But when you are trapped in a hell like yours, all you know and feel and endure is TODAY.  And tomorrow seems an eternity away.

To every parent reading this who would succumb to religious teachings instead of bone deep parental love, LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE CHOOSING.  Any religion, belief system that would have you revile your own child is NOT “godly.”  It is ugly.  It is heinous.  It is ignorant.  And it is deadly.

If you have not yet brought a child into this world, but plan to?  LOOK AT WHAT YOU CURRENTLY BELIEVE.   And if what you buy into would have you burn your own child at the emotional stake should they not be some “ideal” in your head?  DO NOT PROCREATE.  You are NOT fit to parent.

Again, you do not get to open a catalog and choose your child.  You cannot choose what is inside another person.  And how dare you deign to tell another human being they are “wrong” or “dirty” or “evil” or “condemned” because of who they know themselves to be?

As a parent, if your child comes to you and tells you they are gay, transgender, bi, or simply struggling, your first move should be to hold them tightly so they feel nothing but your love.  The next move is to tell them that nothing about that love has changed from the moment before they told you to the moment after they told you.

And your next moves – for the rest of your days, weeks, months, and years - should be about loving, protecting, advocating for, and empowering your child. 

If you give even a second’s thought to your “image”?  You fail.  If you feel even a moment’s shame?  You fail.  If your first worries are about your church?  YOU. FAIL.

Your every thought, word, and deed should be about the fragile child standing in front of you – bravely trusting you with the truth of their being.  And if that truth means a five year old girl who wants to play with trucks, or a six year old boy who wants to wear a dress; a ten year old girl who wants to cut off her long hair, or an eleven year old boy who wants to grow his out; a fourteen year girl who comes to you and says I am a lesbian or a sixteen year old boy who tells you they know they are in the wrong body? 

LOVE THEM.  For every unique, wonderful cell of their being.

Leelah – your death will not be in vain.  I promise.

Society is “fucked up” but I promise, I am not the only parent out here leading this charge.  We will get there, loving one unique, quirky, talented, beautiful SOUL at a time.

Rest in peace, you amazing human being.

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Leelah’s suicide note:

If you are reading this, it means that I have committed suicide and obviously failed to delete this post from my queue.

Please don’t be sad, it’s for the better. The life I would’ve lived isn’t worth living in… because I’m transgender. I could go into detail explaining why I feel that way, but this note is probably going to be lengthy enough as it is. To put it simply, I feel like a girl trapped in a boy’s body, and I’ve felt that way ever since I was 4. I never knew there was a word for that feeling, nor was it possible for a boy to become a girl, so I never told anyone and I just continued to do traditionally “boyish” things to try to fit in.

When I was 14, I learned what transgender meant and cried of happiness. After 10 years of confusion I finally understood who I was. I immediately told my mom, and she reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn’t make mistakes, that I am wrong. If you are reading this, parents, please don’t tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don’t ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won’t do anything but make them hate them self. That’s exactly what it did to me.

My mom started taking me to a therapist, but would only take me to christian therapists, (who were all very biased) so I never actually got the therapy I needed to cure me of my depression. I only got more christians telling me that I was selfish and wrong and that I should look to God for help.

When I was 16 I realized that my parents would never come around, and that I would have to wait until I was 18 to start any sort of transitioning treatment, which absolutely broke my heart. The longer you wait, the harder it is to transition. I felt hopeless, that I was just going to look like a man in drag for the rest of my life. On my 16th birthday, when I didn’t receive consent from my parents to start transitioning, I cried myself to sleep.

I formed a sort of a “fuck you” attitude towards my parents and came out as gay at school, thinking that maybe if I eased into coming out as trans it would be less of a shock. Although the reaction from my friends was positive, my parents were pissed. They felt like I was attacking their image, and that I was an embarrassment to them. They wanted me to be their perfect little straight christian boy, and that’s obviously not what I wanted.

So they took me out of public school, took away my laptop and phone, and forbid me of getting on any sort of social media, completely isolating me from my friends. This was probably the part of my life when I was the most depressed, and I’m surprised I didn’t kill myself. I was completely alone for 5 months. No friends, no support, no love. Just my parent’s disappointment and the cruelty of loneliness.

At the end of the school year, my parents finally came around and gave me my phone and let me back on social media. I was excited, I finally had my friends back. They were extremely excited to see me and talk to me, but only at first. Eventually they realized they didn’t actually give a shit about me, and I felt even lonelier than I did before. The only friends I thought I had only liked me because they saw me five times a week.

After a summer of having almost no friends plus the weight of having to think about college, save money for moving out, keep my grades up, go to church each week and feel like shit because everyone there is against everything I live for, I have decided I’ve had enough. I’m never going to transition successfully, even when I move out. I’m never going to be happy with the way I look or sound. I’m never going to have enough friends to satisfy me. I’m never going to have enough love to satisfy me. I’m never going to find a man who loves me. I’m never going to be happy. Either I live the rest of my life as a lonely man who wishes he were a woman or I live my life as a lonelier woman who hates herself. There’s no winning. There’s no way out. I’m sad enough already, I don’t need my life to get any worse. People say “it gets better” but that isn’t true in my case. It gets worse. Each day I get worse.

That’s the gist of it, that’s why I feel like killing myself. Sorry if that’s not a good enough reason for you, it’s good enough for me. As for my will, I want 100% of the things that I legally own to be sold and the money (plus my money in the bank) to be given to trans civil rights movements and support groups, I don’t give a shit which one. The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was, they’re treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights. Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say “that’s fucked up” and fix it. Fix society. Please.

Goodbye,

 (Leelah) Josh Alcorn

Happy Faces on Christmas Morning

Wanted to share some of the smiles you helped create this year.  I especially love the last one posted to social media by one of the boys.

"Everyone was thrilled, and my mother said it was the best Christmas she ever had :)
As a family we decided to "pay it forward" and go volunteer somewhere. Thanks for bringing joy to the <name removed for privacy> home this holiday season."

We Are A Family

With DGMSer Ame's permission I share a portion of the email she sent me today.  As many of you know, she has been in a rehabilitation facility for a fractured hip and is thrilled to have been released in time to spend Christmas at home with her daughter and beautiful grandbaby, Kiva.

Your donations have made a difference and I just wanted to share this tonight instead of waiting until after the holidays.

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From Ame...

Good morning Linda,

Just got home from the two week stay in the rehabilitation center which, in typical Ame fashion, I fought tooth and nail because I had pre-conceived notions on what it was going to be like. Needless to say - I was wrong; it was really good for me and it wasn't as bad as I expected. 

 

I sat down to do the chore of opening up all the accumulated mail from my 3 week stay in the hospital/rehab and imagine my surprise when I opened this notice from WalMart and there was a gift card in it from you!! As the tears started falling, I realized how everyone else must feel when they receive a hugely needed holiday gift from you and all the DGMS'ers. I have always been on the other side - I would be the one donating and feel so happy to see the pictures on the blog and know I helped with those smiles. 

 

You don't know how much this means to me - this gift card will buy us so many things we need and can't afford. I wish I could say more, but I am crying too hard, so I will leave it at "thank you" - thank you so much.

 

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Our DGMS family is amazing.  Thank you all for reaching out to help touch so many lives this year.

A Poignant Update

I shared this article on Facebook late last evening because it completely underscores how our Yes, Virginia efforts are being utilized this season. 

To date, in addition to paying two gas bills, filling wishlists for dolls, Legos, clothes, hoodies, coats, and other toys, our contributions have funded 13 grocery/retail giftcards for $100 each for food.

For food.

 

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Click to read...

Police Deliver Groceries To Struggling Grandma Caught Shoplifting To Feed Family Of 6

 

Thou Shalt Not Be Myopic

Tis the season when we hear the constant drum being beaten about "the war on Christmas."  It goes hand in hand with "Christians being persecuted."

The problem is that neither of these are remotely true.

Happy Holidays is not some grand conspiracy against your practiced faith.  It is the simple acknowledgement that YOUR faith is only one - not THE ONLY ONE - only one of nearly 10,000 documented religions.  And while I tend to get irritated at overused political correctness, this one I completely support.

As for "Christians being persecuted"?  Not happening.  Reminding someone that their religion cannot govern the practices, politics, or day-to-day lives of those who do not subscribe is not persecution.  Persecution looks like Auschwitz.  Remember Auschwitz?  So yeah, unless you find yourself being rounded up, branded with a number, and starved or gassed to death?  Stop the hysterics and hyperbole.  You don't look persecuted.  You look childish and stupid.

Look, I get it.  I am related to many who visibly chafe at these kinds of facts and reminders.  Their brains begin to itch when confronted with truths they find inconvenient - especially the ones that serve to pull them into some sort of perspective about how their faith is not allowed to rule just because it may have more members or been around longer than others.

I think religion is a wonderful thing when practiced respectfully.  When it provides community (not mob mentality), comfort, clarity. When it remembers its place - and yes, it has a place.  Around your hearth, in your home, in your church, with likeminded believers.  Beyond those gates, no.  Because when it strays beyond its boundaries, that is when problems begin.

Which brings us to today's news piece out of Georgia. A concerned mother is being publicly castigated for daring to oppose the distribution of bibles in her child's PUBLIC elementary school.

The word PUBLIC is very important here.  PUBLIC means that ALL taxpayers help support it.  Yes, ALL.  That makes it a secular institution where religion should not cross the threshold.

That doesn't mean a child cannot silently pray over his rectangular slice of pizza or her gravy covered mystery meat.  It means that religion holds no sway because a PUBLIC school is peopled with ALL religions and NO religions.

Jessica Greene, the mother in this story, is a Christian.  She's just not the closeminded, my-way-or-the-hell-way kind.  She spoke up when her 5th grade son told her about Gideons being allowed to set up shop in the library and distribute their bibles to students who were told to form a line.  Students who objected or did not want one were sent to the other side of the room.

I have seen these people.  They routinely camped out in front of my daughters' middle school.  And I have seen them forcing Bibles into the hands of the children coming out of the school.  (I'll be honest - given the state I live in, I am surprised they were not IN the school.)

Jessica attempted to voice her concerns to the school administration which replied via Facebook message with this statement:

“The Gideons are permitted to offer Bibles to students who wish to pick them up,” the message said. “It is strictly voluntary and the library was the location where students could pick one up; (our) librarian did not give them out. We appreciate your input. If you have further concerns, please contact administration during school hours. Thank you!”

Fine, Facebook.  Ugh.

So she shared her concerns on the page.  The comments that poured forth were of such a nature that many had to be removed.  But the gist was shut up, "You're outnumbered here." <----That part is a quote.

And that part is the problem.

It matters not that your fan club is bigger.  You don't get to PERSECUTE others who don't belong.  And others who don't belong are MANY.

Want your child to be given a bible?  Buy him or her one.  Or send your child to a parochial school where they can roll around in religion all the live long day.  Take them to church as often as possible.  Pray at the dinner table.  Pray for luck on a test.  Pray their shoelaces don't come untied.  No one is going to stop you from doing what you want IN YOUR HOME, IN YOUR CHURCH.

But the moment you deign to step out into the public square and demand that YOUR way is the only way?

Hmmmm, Sharia Law ring a bell?  You know, that's the shit pot constantly being stirred and feared and bemoaned by the same people who type the words "You're outnumbered here" and are so myopic that they cannot see the hypocrisy.

Still think I'm wrong?  Fine.  Switch the scenario just a tad.  Your precious angel comes home clutching a copy of the Quran distributed in their school library.

How big will the skids marks in your underwear driveway be as you peel out and storm the gates of the superintendent?  How loud will your protestations be in the school office, on Facebook, at the next school board meeting?

Why?

Because YOU don't believe in the Quran?

Let that sink in a moment.  

Never mind.  I don't have all day for enlightenment to surface in a closed mind.

Just think about it next time you are ready to whine about the fake War on Christmas or flinch when reminded that attempting to force religion into the governance of everyone means open season for EVERY religion to demand entrance into your lives. 

Oh yeah, one more thing ... HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

The Pot Is Empty But The Elfing Goes On

Just a quick update to thank you all for your donations.  The pot is officially empty, but that happens.  The shopping will continue as usual, however, as Rudy and I will cover the ongoing wishes as we do each time this occurs.

If you have not had a chance to donate, now's the time!  Only about a week left to work with because of shipping constraints.

One last push of the sleigh!

For Those Of Us Who Just Can't 'Let It Go'

Major props to the family who invested the time and energy in this display.  Indulge your Disney dreams..

 

Update From Elf Central

At the keyboard again tonight, working on transforming wishes into reality.  Still getting requests for help with food - that one hurts my heart the most.  Have purchased 11 giftcards just for those type of pleas so far, and today I was able to use our funds to pay the gas bill to keep the heat on for another family.  You are touching lives!

Received another two emails today.

With each email that is received and vetted, elfing begins and the balance dips in our Yes, Virginia fund.  We have done amazing things so far and still have 2 1/2 weeks left to make our magic.

As you sit around your Christmas tree this weekend, enjoying the warmth of family and the glow of lights, please take a moment to think of those who simply want to provide heat or a meal for their families, or a single gift on Christmas morning - and if you can help our effort, we can help some more people.  Every little bit adds up.

The link is open for business. 

Suffocating On Injustice

"I can't breathe."

These words, gasped 9 times over by Eric Garner as his face was crammed into concrete, his neck wrapped in a chokehold, have become a rallying cry.

These three words may well be the ones that find the tipping point for what decent American citizens are willing to accept from their law enforcement officers.

Tonight, in cities all across the country, people are gathering and marching in protest over the lack of an indictment against the officer whose ego took over and took Mr. Garner's life.

A week ago the flames burned hot when a grand jury refused to indict Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown.  Witness testimonies varied, there was no video to replay - just a nation divided over who some deemed a "worthless thug who got what he deserved" and others who viewed the officer as "a dirty, over-reactive cop with an itchy trigger finger."

Those flames were fanned when 12 year old Tamir Rice was shot within seconds of a police officer pulling up next to him at a park.

But with the return of no consequences over Garner's murder, those flames have had the gasoline of impotent rage thrown on them and an inferno has erupted.

As it should.

I wrote last week, “this country's history holds that our most important changes; most stunning civil rights victories; most eye opening lessons come only on a wave of blood.”

The blood of too many has been shed, and that the blood is pouring from so many black citizens is simply as wrong as it is unforgivable.

We are seeing much written about “white privilege” of late.  Many wanting to deny that it, like racism, even exists; that it is just a liberal media construct designed to divide us.

Bull and shit.

We are divided.

Divided between those whose eyes are open and those who choose to be blind.  Between those who acknowledge the disparity in treatment and those who simply revel ignorantly in it.  Between those who view themselves as equal to all, and those who set themselves above based on an accident of birth.

White privilege exists.  I know it.  You know it.  Maybe we haven’t ever really thought about it until now, but those readers whose skin just happens to be on the light end of the spectrum have enjoyed the perks of pale.  I acknowledge that I am not immediately suspect when I enter a store, a bank, an eatery, hell, ANY PLACE.  I acknowledge that I get the benefit of the doubt when pulled over by a cop.  I admit I have no earthly idea what it feels like as a mother to worry about your dark skinned son’s safety simply because his skin is dark.

I navigate this world easily because my skin color grants me access, permission, consideration.

And how wrong is that, I ask you?

I also acknowledge that the disparity in treatment exists not simply in the realm of skin color.  It lives and breathes in the economic strata of this nation.  I have money, ergo I must be a better person.  If  I had to appear in a courtroom, I could afford a fancy lawyer to have at my side, thus pretty much insuring a lighter sentence for my crime.

That is completely fucked, too.  Anyone who commits a crime should be subject to the same scrutiny, laws, and punishments regardless of their bank account.  A crime is a crime.  It’s not somehow prettier just because it wears nicer shoes.  Not every black person is a "thug" or "demon."  Not every white person is an angel incapable of meaning to commit a crime.

Ever notice that?  Black person commits a crime and they are "worthless," "shit," "gang member."  But when a white person does they are immediately afforded terms like "mental issues," "snapped," "disenfranchised."  Wrong.  Crime is crime.

Change must happen.  It simply must.  But like any big, lasting alteration to our nation’s character and fabric, it will take time, dedication to purpose, commitment to cause, and the willingness to look the problem dead in the eye and call it out.

Do I think every cop is dirty?  Absolutely not.  Do I think there are dirty cops?  Absolutely, yes.  And they must be rooted out BY THE GOOD COPS.

Just as bad Catholics must be rooted out by good Catholics.  Bad Muslims must be rooted out by good Muslims.  Bad accountants must be rooted out by good accountants.  Bad baristas must be rooted out by good baristas.   It has to start with those closest to the problem, those who see it daily, know it is wrong, but have yet to speak up for fear of reprisal.

And as that happens, the good, decent people will support them. 

We cannot have a country where it is possible to murder an unarmed, nonviolent man, ON VIDEO, and the person who murdered them not be called to account simply because they wear a badge.

Look, our history is bloody.  We took what we wanted, we spilled blood to get it.  That is an inescapable truth of our founding.  But what is happening today seems to echo those beginnings.  Killing with impunity.  Denying people basic dignity and rights because of their skin color.   Treating people as lesser based on personal biases and wrongheaded notions.

Pat Lynch, the president of NYPD’s largest police union took to a microphone tonight to defend Daniel Panteleo – the officer who placed Garner in the chokehold – saying that Panteleo “is literally, literally an Eagle Scout, and I think that story isn’t being told.”

Seriously?  I don’t give a flying fuck if he was a GIRL scout in a pink tutu.  What relevance does that even have here?  That an Eagle Scout can’t commit a crime?  Give me a break.  Google Mark William Hofman – forger and murderer, Charles Whitman – UT tower gunman, Arthur Gary Bishop – serial killer…

It is apologists like Lynch who stand in the way of rooting this problem out and effecting lasting meaningful change.  The degree of tone deaf is stunning.  It is insulting. 

All life – black, white, rich, poor, religious, atheist – must be valued in the same way.  And punishments must be based on behaviors, actions - not skin color, nationality, wallet size.  Our symbol of justice – Lady Justice – is sculpted as unseeing, blind to those who come before her.  She holds a set of scales intended to dispense justice in a balanced and fair form.  That is how it should be.  In truth, however, her blindfold is missing, and her scales are constantly dipped to one side.

Impotent rage is a dangerous thing.  It moves a person to action, often dangerous action.  Let the collective impotent rage this nation is feeling spur us on to productive, meaningful, lasting action.

Because we have had enough violence, and because we are all suffocating on injustice.

Pets Need Our Protection - Please Read

A few days ago one of our DGMS regulars (Tracy S) lost her much loved pet, Casey.  While there is no rewind button to hit to undo what happened, she is determined to try to help other pet owners who may not know what seemingly innocent foods could take their pet forever.

While I was familiar with a few of these, I had no idea about the rest.  Pet owners know:  Our dogs always put on their best puppy eyes when they see us eating and it is very easy to melt into them and give them some of what's on our plate.  The problem is, our desire to make them happy, and their inability to know good from dangerous, could prove a fatal combination.

Be safe, rather than heartbroken. 

From Tracy:

I lost my best friend.
Please don’t let this happen to yours

On Thanksgiving of this year, my dog Casey got into the trash and ate turkey skin.
I had heard it was bad for dogs, but never dreamed it would kill him.  He was fine Thursday evening, and Friday morning.  By Friday afternoon he had thrown up, and I thought that would teach him not to get into the trash.  Friday evening he threw up again, and just laid around, and I thought he would be fine since everything seemed to be out of his stomach.  By the time I woke up Saturday, I knew he was really sick.  I rushed him to the vet, and even though they did everything they could, he was gone by Sunday morning.  He had gotten pancreatitis from the fatty turkey skin and it killed him.  What bothers me most is that I didn’t know, and the fact that he had to be in pain, but most dogs hide when they hurt, so I didn’t know.  I thought he would be okay.

We all see the posts on Facebook, or on the internet saying not to let your dogs and cats eat certain things, but honestly, have you ever really thought it could KILL your best friend? 

Here is a list of some of the things you should never give your pets.  It is NOT complete.

•Chocolate

•Sugarless gum and candy

•Alcohol

•Yeast dough

•Grapes and raisins

•Macadamia nuts

•Onions and garlic

•Caffeine

•Fat trimmings and bones

•Avocados

•Mushrooms

•Turkey skin and gravy

•Nuts

The list goes on.  Please, for your pets sake, learn what they shouldn’t have.  Better yet, don’t feed your pet “people” food.  I know they are all cute and sad looking, wanting your food, but if you want them around for a long time, this is such an easy way to prevent losing them too early.

Please help me spread the word for Casey.  He was my best friend, and I lost him because I didn’t know.