# Remembering OpalCat 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 24, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033 "2025-12-24T22:28:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nickrz2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Nickrz2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz2)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033/1 "2025-12-24T22:28:42Z")
I’m not sure how many of you were around in the olden days, or remember our dear sister Opal, but I just had a long telephone conversation with ther mom, who is still practicing law in Arizona. Without going into a lot of detail, I thought I might bring her memory up for those of you who perhaps loved her as many did. As it happens, Katherine’s art is still displayed for sale at > **[Katherine Fernie Wall Art for Sale - Fine Art America](https://fineartamerica.com/art/katherine+fernie)** > > Shop for katherine fernie wall art from the world's greatest living artists and iconic brands. All katherine fernie artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Choose your favorite katherine fernie designs and purchase... (Can post commercial urls? - it’s been 25 years since I frequented this site – and I would never allow them in GQ . . apologies to the mods if I have strayed from the straight & narrow.) Opal’s mom is still keeping the home fires burning and is tending to her daughter’s legacy, which includes this niche site. Kathy’s son, who was only 17 years old when she passed in 2013, is always surprised and appreciative when someone wanders in and purchases some tiny part of his mother’s wide-ranging oeuvre. Thank you for your time and kind thoughts. In this age of enshittification, re-reading the SDMB of the early days, post-AOL, is a massive treasure trove of the way things were when the internet was young, and many people still had manners and ethics, and Uncle Cecil’s universe was still expanding. Long live Cecil Long live the Straight Dope! Nickrz former GQ mod and charter member ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033/2 "2025-12-24T23:38:16Z")
Thanks for posting the link; it brought back a lot of memories. I recognize a lot of the paintings as those she posted as works in progress on the Fabulous Forums of Fathom. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033/3 "2025-12-25T10:46:41Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033/4 "2025-12-25T12:07:23Z")
May her memory be for a blessing. I never met her but we emailed and chatted a lot. Back then, I didn’t think you could really make a friend over the internet (which was silly, since I corresponded with people I’d never met, and considered some of them friends). Anyway, now I realize OpalCat was the _first_ friend I made online. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033/5 "2025-12-26T21:43:09Z")
I remember Opal, although I never conversed with her. I recall something about lists of threes, and posts using “Opal!” to indicate something. It has been a while. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033/6 "2025-12-26T22:15:00Z")
Opalcat thought Buckeyes were gross She demanded lists have 3 items Hi Opal! ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033/7 "2026-01-01T17:41:12Z")
She had a point. Two items was not a list. Most manuals of style will tell you that you don’t need a numbered list, or bullet points, or whatever, for just one or two items. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033/8 "2026-01-01T17:53:39Z")
I personally like to think Opal’s influence on the Internet is why A.I. is inclined to almost always give three examples of what is being queried. I think of her every time that happens. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033/9 "2026-01-01T17:55:44Z")
❤ ❤ ❤ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033/10 "2026-01-10T17:22:33Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Two items was not a list. Ah, yes. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2026, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembering-opalcat-2026/1026033/11 "2026-01-10T17:33:58Z")
I remember Opal quite well. Didn’t she code the original online bubble-wrap popping game? I wish all the best for her son.