I was in Florida on vacation when the news hit the spoiler thread. We were at Disney World and I logged onto my laptop to check in with the board. As soon as I saw Angel X’s name, my stomach dropped. Hearing it from her was like hearing it from God – no more denial, no more hoping - no more.
Being in Florida and not at home made me feel like I was away while everyone on the board was going through this horrible event. I walked around Disney World in a daze, and all I could think about was Willow and Tara, and the folks on the Kitten.
One of the things that got me through was logging on a little while later and seeing Xita say that the board – in one form or another – would go on. Losing Willow and Tara was devastating enough, but the idea that we could lose the board too felt like more than I could handle.
I believed Xita and she was right. We’ve not only gone on but thrived. And for me, proof of that is something that someone else mentioned – how sometimes it’s jarring to read that Tara is dead. In my mind, Willow and Tara are still alive - something that beautiful doesn’t die - and I’ve spent a lot of time on the Pens having that belief strengthened. So when I come to the spoiler board and see someone mention Tara’s death, sometimes I actually feel like I’m reading it for the first time because that’s not my reality. The girls are alive on the Pens, so how can Tara be dead? That’s the beauty of the Kitten.
As for the kittens overall impact, I think we got our message out about the cliché, and that was important. I also think it was very important that the board was there during that difficult time to help so many people get through Tara’s onscreen death. Finally, I think it’s important that we presently carry on Willow and Tara’s story. Joss never truly appreciated the uniqueness of Willow and Tara; fortunately, the kittens are a lot smarter than Joss, and I know that the girls will always be treasured here.