When a parent has a child, they hope that one day, their child will receive an award, get recognized for an accomplishment – or win a prestigious contest. Many times, my niece Jaimie and my nephew Joey have won award after award – and I have seen the proud looks on my sister and brother-in-law’s faces when they would hang yet another of their children’s achievements on the wall.

While I do not have a human child of my own – I can say with much happiness that I am now a proud parent as well – because my son Beavis was chosen as the Cat Connection’s Cat of the Month for August, 2004.

Defeating 81 other cats, Beavis got 178 votes out of 833 – easily defeating his closest opponent by 49 votes. As the winner, he will receive a free collar and toy from The Cat Connection, which is a store based in Dallas, Texas – and have his picture and bio prominently featured on their website, www.thecatconnection.com.

While I am very proud of Beavis, I am also proud of Christine, who is truly responsible for his victory. On her own, she found the website and sent in our favorite picture of him, which we call his, “curious head” shot. And when they placed him in the contest, she e-mailed me the link with the subject, “Vote For Our Son” – and I did – with every single e-mail address I have.

I also contacted everyone I know, including my South Park Digest family members, who all voted for Beavis. Thanks to them, Beavis’ vote count was climbing faster than any other cat on the site – and if not for them – he might not have won the contest. So to them, I am truly grateful.

I am sure to some people, I sound crazy – but I don’t care. Beavis is as much of a son to me as if I helped give him life. We do all the things “human” fathers and sons do. We play with his toys, we spend quality father/son time together – and he even watches me work. As far as I am concerned, he is as much of a son to me as a human child would be. I talk to him as if he understands me, I try to teach him things a growing boy should know – and I discipline him when he does something wrong – although he never, ever listens.

I would like to thank The Cat Connection, Christine, my South Park family – and each and every person who voted for Beavis. It is truly an honor to know that Beavis has won this contest. I hope that Christine enters him in many more contests – and that he always comes out the winner.

The funny part is that Beavis has no idea that he won the contest – or for that matter – what a contest is…

…that’s my boy.