If January was any indication, 2012 is going to be a year worth remembering—and forgetting. I can't figure out how to write about most of it, but let's just say that it's a damn good thing February comes with so much chocolate.

I do want to pause for a moment, though, to say thank you to everyone who sent kind words, incredibly offensive words with incredibly good intentions, e-hugs, and little Instagram hearts. On January 11, I said goodbye to my cat, Callie, after eighteen years. She died of kidney failure, just as her brother Carmel did a few years ago, and maybe someday I'll stop crying long enough to write up just how grateful I am to have had such delightful little fuzzballs as my constant companions through childhood, adolescence, and beyond.

Until then, I have no choice but to face the challenges of life without a cat. I'm the President and CEO of the International Society of Cat Ladies, so this is the part of 2012 I'll be trying very hard to forget. I don't like that I can leave a full cup of coffee perched precariously on my bed next to my laptop and know for a fact that it will still be there when I get back. I don't like how quiet the house is. I don't like that my clean clothes go directly to the closet without collecting $200 or any cat hair. I don't like being the only person on Instagram who isn't sharing cat pictures.

Callie (and Carmel), you are missed.