Thirteen years ago, this very week, I was coming out of a meeting and as the group was walking to the parking lot, they were remarking at how loud that cat was meowing.

I didn't hear the cat. I wasn't a cat person.

Still, this cat came up and started walking between my legs as we headed out to lunch. I sort of disregarded the cat and enjoyed lunch with my companions.

I recalled the cat looked rather thin, and recalled how the grocery store and had inadvertently bagged some dry cat food in with my groceries. It had been in my car for a few weeks. I had been meaning to return it.

It was clear this cat was a stray - not a kitten but not full-grown - and she was hungry. So I drove back to the parking lot and found her, Opened up the bad and she went hog wild.

Then I recalled my friend Betsy had said she wanted a cat. I was looking at a cat that needed a home.

Done!

So I spent the next three hours (no exaggeration) trying to get this cat into my car. Test of wills. I finally did and as we were driving down Peachtree Street, she was howling like crazy. I was talking to her, begging her to hush. She did so right in front of a bar called Lulu's Bait Shack.

I took "Lulu" home to call Betsy. Got her voicemail saying she was out of town until Tuesday. I had a pet bunny at the time - I told Lulu that if she fucked with my bunny, she was in trouble. Next thing I know, I turn around and Lulu is cleaning my bunny and playing with its tail.

Okay, so Lulu could stay until Betsy got back.

That night sealed the deal. Lulu hopped on my chest and fell asleep purring. She was safe and she was home. Funny thing how fate works wonderful mysterious ways in our lives. I was truly lucky that Lulu picked me to be her human. She was such a gift - she'd be waiting in the window for me to come home. She'd meow incessantly if she wasn't fed promptly at 6am and 5pm daily. She loved licking cantaloupe and was convinced that my hands were there to feed her, pet her, or provide catnip. After I had my breast reduction, she'd carefully put a paw on my boobs to see if it was okay to crawl all over me. She'd headbutt me and give air kisses. She was a lapcat.

Yesterday, I took her out to the backyard where the sun was shining and shs stretched out on some wild strawberries, getting a sun tan.

Today, my heart is broken. I knew it was coming but I didn't realize it would be quite so devastating.