Skillet was my first cat as a woman living alone in my first apartment. I was 25 and knew after growing up always having multiple cats in our home that I would have one of my own when I moved out. I will never forget the day I saw her face on Petfinder and called the animal hospital she was staying at a few towns over. The adoption people made it seem like she might be off the market at any moment, a sales tactic that totally worked on me as I scrambled to fill out paperwork and give references (this was 2004) I eagerly told them I had a cat carrier in my car (I didn't) and that I was able to take her home that day even though she needed to come back to be spayed within the next week or two. I got the approval and hauled booty up the street to buy a carrier. She was mine.

Skillet was a champion at adjusting to whatever apartment I moved into. Just very relaxed and even tempered. I miss the way she slept on her face. I miss watching movies with her and sharing popcorn. I miss how oddly affectionate she got when she smelled shaving cream or freshly shaved legs (weird, right?) I miss the weight of her on my bed in the middle of the night. That feeling of always knowing she was right there and if she wasn't there I would wake up and look for her like a lost blanket.

The most important people in Skillets life are my mother, my sister Maeve and my friends Mike T, Cindy M, Dan B, Meghan B and Mara H. Special love to one of my oldest friends Mara. Skillet came with the name Flower which I did not care for. Mara dubbed her Skillet and received the honor of being Skillets godmother. :)

In the end she will always be my number one and as I try to stay positive today and throughout this pandemic. Fifteen years is plenty enough time to hold her in my heart forever.