The Carrie G

In 1952, a cat wandered into a classroom at Elysian Heights Elementary School, Echo Park, California, and here begins the story of one of the world’s most adored cats. After this cat came back to the same classroom each morning, the children decided to name him “Room 8″ after the number of their classroom. Room 8, just like the children, left the school for the summer and would always return on the very first day of the new year. This pattern continued each year until his death in 1968.

Room 8 became a celebrity in his own right, receiving letters from fans worldwide after appearing in Look Magazine, and even inspiring a book entitled “A Cat Called Room 8” and a song entitled “Room 8: The School Cat.” Following his death in 1968, his obituary in the Los Angeles Times ran three paragraphs, like any other well-loved celebrity. His obituary even ran in papers as far away as Connecticut.

Alice Walker and her cat Frida.

but to be fearless in facing them.

Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but

for the heart to conquer it.