Obituary for a Friend

             Kangarue “Diane” Butterfield passed away on February 18, 2023 after experiencing sudden heart failure and subsequent veterinary euthanasia. She was around 12 years old and spent her years as the Butterfield family cat, outliving the beloved Spooner Butterfield and remaining after Catniss Butterfield was re-homed.

Originally called “Waffles,” Kangarue’s given name supposedly came from an argument between her young adopters, Ripley and Drusilla. Ripley wanted to name her new cat “Rue” after the tragic Hunger Games character- she had recently seen the movie. Drusilla, being only a toddler, preferred an animal name. Thus, the story goes, Kangaroo and Rue were fused into a singular title for the black and white kitten.

In the last 3 or 4 years of her life, Kangarue went by “Diane,” a name suggested by her dear friend Madeline Boccone. “Diane” comes from the song "Sleeping with the Television On" from Billy Joel’s 1980 album, Glass Houses. The song goes:

I've been watching you waltz all night, Diane

Nobody's found a way behind your defenses

They never notice the zap gun in your hand

Until you're pointing it and stunning their senses…

            Diane was a cat with eccentric tendencies. She often crouched down and became extremely twitchy, with perked ears and spasming back muscles. Sometimes this would be followed by a clumsy pounce or swat at a passing foot, and other times an overcharged sprint around her apartment. She also habitually stood in place before heavily flopping onto her side on the floor, raising her legs to invite attention. These behaviors endeared Diane to all whom she met, in spite of her notably strong allergen production and ever-shedding fur.

            Diane had remarkably green eyes, almost a lime color, with pupils that instantly narrowed to thin, mischievous lines or expanded into saucers. Her loves of life included sitting at the foot of Ripley’s bed, hogging every seat in the living room, jumping into wrapping paper on Christmas morning, and chewing on the plastic wrap around bulk-packaged seltzer or diet pepsi. She also enjoyed sunning herself on window ledges in her Kensington, Brooklyn home. She had a commanding, unshakeable purr.

            Diane is survived by Ripley, Drusilla, Melinda, and Michelle, whom she called family throughout her life. She will be profoundly missed.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you pet a kindly stray cat in your neighborhood, or perhaps illustrate Diane and send it to ripster125@gmail.com.