At Ft. Leavenworth, we all take turns checking the horses at night. One night, about 4 years ago, it was my turn to check the barn. I turned the corner down one aisle and heard a very tiny little meow. I looked down, and there was Barnacle - she was so little she fit in the palm of my hand, and had not yet been weaned - in fact, she really didn't have much in the way of teeth.

Well, I figured I'd bring her home for the night - it was late, and that in the morning, I would take her to the Post Vet and hopefully she would be able to find an adoptive home. Barnacle attached herself to me that night - she slept on my neck and actually sucked on my earlobe for half the night - well, by then we were bonded, so she because yet another Donovan rescue kitty.

John named her because she was found at the barn and because she is very clingy. It's a great name. She's a great kitty - has a little Siamese in her, I believe, because she is so damned talkative.