Many Maneki Neko

One thing I started noticing almost everywhere I go in Hawaii is the Japanese good luck cat - Maneki Neko. When I went into a store or restaurant, there was Maneki Neko waving to me. At least, I thought he (or she) was waving until I learned that Maneki Neko doesn't wave, he beckons. In fact, Maneki Neko, or まねき 猫 translates as Beckoning Cat. Also known as the Money or Fortune Cat, Maneki Neko is ambidextrous - right paw for beckoning money, left paw for beckoning customers (which I assume also means money, does it not?).

As soon as I started noticing Maneki Neko, I also started feeling like my life was sad and empty without my own Beckoning Cat to make me feel lucky. I needed to find a Maneki Neko of my own. But there were so many to choose from!

Traditional...

Samurai...

Sumo...

Holiday...

I started feeling confused. Was there really any difference between Maneki Neko and Hello Kitty?

And what about those cat clocks? Were they really Maneki Neko...without paws?

And when it came right down to it, maybe I was just feeling nostalgic for Felix...

After all, Felix didn't need magic. "Whenever he gets in a fix, he reaches into his bag of tricks!"

In the end, I think I got the best of all the lucky and magic cats. A black Maneki Neko. Who now holds a place of honor on my dashboard. I think I'll call him Maneki Felix.