Tiger Pets: Ridiculous, or Brilliant?

           When I was a kid, maybe seven or eight, I had a plan.  I found my mother and announced, “When I am sixteen, I will have a tiger for a pet.”  I thought sixteen was as grown-up as I was ever likely to be, and I certainly did not imagine my mother would still have anything to say about how I lived my life, let alone that I might still be living in her house.  My mother barely glanced at me and responded, “Leslie, no you won’t.  You know that’s ridiculous.”  I did not pursue the subject, but I certainly did not know it was ridiculous.  I just figured that I would do whatever I wanted when I finally reached the extremely grown-up age of sixteen.

            I did finally turn sixteen, and I had not forgotten my dream.  But by then I realized how little control I really had over my life.  My mother would certainly not allow a tiger in the house—she would not even allow a kitten.  I still thought tigers were elegant, exotic animals, and I thought I could still become a tiger trainer and spend my time on stage with several pet tigers when I finished growing up.

            Well, I grew up.  I got my own apartment (one that did allow pets, incidentally), but did not get a tiger.  Instead, I got kittens.  I began to understand how much work a tiger would take, how expensive, and how dangerous it would be in the house.  Kittens were hard enough on the furniture and my skin.  Now that I have my own house, I own a chihuahua.  He weights eight pounds, and sleeps on the back of the sofa where he can watch safely away from people feet.  He is all the time, energy, and money I am willing to expend on a pet.  I no longer wish for a tiger, in fact, I think a tiger is a ridiculous pet.

            It makes me wonder, though.  As I learn and grow, my opinions change.  New information becomes part of my schema, and my view of the world changes.  I have been disillusioned many times.  I have recognized my ill-informed views on many things.  I wonder what I know to be true and rational today, that will prove itself false and ridiculous tomorrow?