10/12/2025
Today marks 9 years since I adopted my little Gem. Lil G. Lil Peanut.
Some of you already know but we lost our little girl last month suddenly when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away about a week later. She was only 10 years old. I'm pretty private but I want to be a little vulnerable and write a tribute because she was a huge part of my adult life and journey.
I adopted Gemma from the incredible when I moved to Portland 9 years ago. She was a tiny 1 1/2 years old kitty and just 6 lbs full grown. I was fresh out of college and excited (and scared) to move to a new city by myself. Gemma was my constant companion. Always greeting me at the door when I came home from my shiny new "big girl" design job. So happy to see me and plopping down for some pets. Snuggling under the covers with me in bed while we ate snacks and watched tv. That girl loved a blanket and a cuddle. She slept in my bed every single night of her life, only getting up to go p*e or to mess with something and make a bunch of noise of course lol. She was a shy girl and she followed me everywhere. I was never alone with Gemma around.
Luckily, she shared me with Alex when he would come over. She quickly decided she liked him because it meant she could snuggle between us. Eventually, he was the only person she would let hold her. She would go on to move from my first Portland house, to my first apartment with Alex, a rental house, and finally the first home as homeowners.
One thing about Gemma is, she LOVED to be on my lap. She would squeeze onto my lap even when my computer was already there and jump up when I was sitting at my desk working on a painting. When she wasn't occupying my lap she was in the window—especially if there was sunshine—snoozing or watching the bunnies, squirrels, and birds. Gemma was a big part of my story through my entire young adulthood. Losing her is like losing a piece of my heart. I'll miss her big fuzzy paws, kissable pink nose, pointy ears, and big blue eyes. I am so lucky to have known her and been part of her story.
