The other day I received a free “2009 Bad Kitties: When Good Kitties Go Bad” calendar with an order of packing supplies for my online business. The calendar shows kitties in various states of repose (trouble-making poses) for each month, gnawing or chewing on something or each other, staring at fish or birds with not-so-innocent intentions, or tearing something apart. They exude palpable angst and exuberant energy in each photograph…cute, yet mischievous portents of their future selves.

Kitties, Kittens and Cats…girls, young ladies and older women seem to have a fascination with felines. I’ve never been much of a cat person myself, though I do like kitties and the energy, innocence and playfulness they introduce into any situation. Of course, they become less playful, bite harder and hiss louder with age as they learn to adapt to the unflinching rules of the world around them.

Interestingly, three of the most influential women in my life (my 7 year old daughter, my 26 year old girlfriend and my 42 year old soon to be Ex-Wife) all obsess about kitties (each to a greater degree depending on their youth) and I can’t help but wonder if a parallel exists between “When Good Kitties Go Bad” and “When Young Girls Mature”. This comes to mind on the day I give the innocuous “2009 Bad Kitties: When Good Kitties Go Bad” calendar to my daughter and I reaffirm my desire to protect her innocence, playfulness and vitality and the joy she has brought into my life.