Aw,jeez.

I don't log in to the 'Cat much more, but do loiter occasionally. A few years back I was Kat's Secret Santa, and afterwards we enjoyed some 'kewl' discussion on the PM side. She also took it upon herself to do some genealogical digging on my behalf, which was very helpful and most welcome.
My own experience with her aside, just from reading various threads and observing her interactions with the rest of this bunch over the years I felt that Katlaughing was consistently one of the most open and generous people I'd encountered, not only on the Mudcat, but on the entire internet. From what I read here, I'm sure this opinion wouldn't change had I had the chance to meet her in 3D.

Like the morning coffee crew down at the Co-op restaurant, or over at the Elks, or the Legion, you get used to seeing the regulars, and their presence defines the place, somehow. Their absence, when it happens, isn't so much an emptiness as a reconfiguring of their presence. This little cafe out here on the great strange plain of the internet has Kat's mojo embedded in it's DNA. It's gonna be weird not having her at the table, but I'll never step through the door here without being reminded that much of what is good here can be traced back to her.

Happy trails, Katlaughing.