I’m sorry to report that one of our former cats, Pooka, is no longer in this world.

Pooka and her brother Luyendyk were the first kittens I’d ever had. Pooka, as a baby, was one of the ugliest cats you’d ever seen—her eyes bugged out, her ears were too large, and she looked for all the world like a Troll Doll. But somehow, she was a cute ugly.

Pooka, all black, talked back like a disgusted teenager when you wouldn’t let her in the closet, but was loving and affectionate; her favorite place to sleep was usually on top of you.

Ken’s mom took Pooka and Luendyk for the first year we were in Wales, and then they were adopted by Donna and Darla. We didn’t want to move the cats around too much, and Donna and Darla knew if they adoped them, they’d fall in love with them, so we all agreed that the adoption would be a permanent one.

Last year, Pooka developed cyclothorax (which Donna and I decided sounded like something out of Dr. Suess). Although she was doing reasonably well, breathing was sometimes difficult. Last night, she died in her sleep. She’d seemed fine during the day, so although her death was not a shock, it was a sad surprise.

Please send kind thoughts towards Luyendyk, who’s never been without his sister. He, like the rest of us, will miss her greatly.