The first time I held Amelia, she was 8 weeks old. She held my face in her paws and licked my nose. I was hooked. Her first night with me was supposed to be in a large wire dog crate with her sister, Amanda – to keep them safe from my dogs and to make sure they didn’t wander and hide somewhere. Amelia immediately squeezed through the openings. I got a smaller crate. Amelia couldn’t get out… or so I thought. The next morning I awoke to see just one kitty in the crate! I called, “Kitty, kitty, kitty!!! and she came running up from the basement! My little explorer. And that’s how she got her name – after Amelia Earhart, another great explorer.

Amelia is only pet I’ve ever known to give affection the way she did. She would use her paws to turn my face toward her so she could lick my nose. She LOVED to lick people’s noses – everyone’s!

I always said Amelia would’ve super-glued herself to me if she could. She was almost always on me, or at least had a paw resting on me. She loved to be zipped up my hoodie or lying on my shoulders whilst I worked from home. Her favorite place to sleep at night was on my head, covering all my breathing holes whenever possible! She could just never get close enough!

The past few months, she finally leaned to sleep next to me… but still next to my face, wrapped in my arms, and her front leg/arm holding tight across my neck. She was a hugger.

Someone once told me Amelia didn’t meow, that it sounded like she actally said the word “meow” instead. I hadn’t noticed before, but it really did sound that way!

Amelia passed in my arms, feeling my heartbeat, feeling loving caresses, and hearing my voice comforting her and telling her how much I love her. She passed the best way I wish for any person or animal… feeling comforted and loved.

Good-bye my sweet girl. You’re forever in my heart.