Adieu, Thistle, my sweet girl. No one could have been a better companion. In the last 14 years, you got me through the loss of your 'big sister' Kami, the loss of our beloved Da, and the worst of the pandemic isolation. We had a rough start. Your first week as a 2-year-old living outside a shelter for the first time – we were all so unsure. It was a lot to ask of a skittish feral cat to be the center of our family. You proved to be a good little mama to your Lovey, and I was always touched to see how considerate you were to me. You would jump on the bed, ready to play, but would approach me carefully. If it appeared to you that I was asleep, you would quietly backtrack and curl up beside me, not moving until I awoke in the morning. Never much of a talker, your judgey-eye scowl of disapproval and curl of your lip always cracked me up. Even though it took me a long time to acclimate, I came to love your over-enthusiastic, punching way above your weight class ‘boops’, smashing your nose into whatever part of my face was nearest. You are a world-class cuddler; my naps will never be the same. Sweetest of kitty dreams, my little one, and thank you for being in our lives.