John, I'm so sorry you lost your friend. As I was reading this thread, my little 12-year old calico (ok, she's maybe 14 pounds, not really so little) was sitting on my lap purring and I felt the wistfulness of knowing she won't always be with me... then she bit me and jumped off my lap, which she often does just in the middle of purring, because she is slightly psychotic (and believe me, Sorcha, I certainly CAN do wrong in her eyes, like leave her in the care of a stranger when I go away...)but I had to laugh and appreciate the coexistence of two complicated species. I hope you find happy, loving memories under the tree today. Margaret