To the Editor:

I was reading the March 12 edition when all of a sudden I started tearing up and laughing out loud. Ilse put a smile on my face instantly. Deborah from New London wrote in to share her love for Ilse. Her rescue cat, from Subase New London, a beautiful Maine Coon that drinks from the faucet and loves a lit candle.

In 1997 while shooting pool in the Enlisted Club, I saw a kitten dart in, snag a piece of popcorn, and dart outside. No one could catch him, I was told. I grabbed two beers for me and a coffee creamer for the kitten, and I sat on the deck and waited until he couldn’t resist. He poked his head out to take a lick, and he ran our lives for the next 20 years.

Tommy, a beautiful Maine Coon, drank from from the faucet (called Tommy Time), and he loved lit candles. The first time he saw one, he walked over the flame and turned around to put it out with his paw. He was just slightly feral, but he was a big sweetheart too. He might be Ilse’s great uncle. Thank you for the great memories.

Grant Plunkett

New London

We welcome letters to the editor. Please limit letters to 200 words and send them to Lee Howard at l.howard@theday.com.