• I resisted to get a pet for my daughter for a while.
• I couldn't resist a 6-week-old kitten named Luna.
• I didn't anticipate how having a cat would help me when my kids are at their dad's house.

At first, I was extremely reluctant to get a pet as a newly divorced mom of two.

Whenever my 7-year-old daughter Vivian asked if we could get a kitten for her birthday, I imagined it would only be more work for me, more money spent, and it would claw at the newly purchased couch. However, just for fun, we scrolled kittens at an animal shelter, and we were both awed by a black kitten who was only 6 weeks old.

At the sight of Luna, I finally caved.

The cat wasn't a burden as I thought

I'll never forget my daughter dashing into my apartment to see her kitten and cuddle it. Luna and Vivian were quite a pair during their first week together. The next week, it was just me and Luna, and it hit me: as a divorced parent, splitting time with my kids week to week, I would see Luna much more than my daughter would.

To my surprise, I realized a cat wasn't a burden; caring for Luna was exactly what I needed to lower my stress and distract my heartache when I missed my kids.

Luna has become my constant companion I didn't know I needed. During the last two and half years, she has become, the therapy cat I didn't know I needed, making me smile when I'm lonely and bringing out my nurturing energy and playfulness.

When she was little, she kneaded my chest and fell asleep on me. I stayed still as we lay together, which reminded me of holding an infant. Luna has her own toy box, she chases feathers and mouse-shaped toys, but mostly, she likes chewing on my daughter's hair ties that have fallen on the bathroom floor.

Now Luna is bigger and rests next to my leg while I sleep, as though guarding me and always nearby. I will admit waking up with Luna by my side and her tail brushing against my leg as a sweet hello that brings new joy to my day.

She keeps me company when the house is empty

When I return from dropping my kids off at their dad's home, a heavy sadness slumps my shoulders, but when I open the door to my apartment and say, "Luna," she is usually already waiting by the door. Knowing she is waiting there for me melts my heart.

Filling her food dish, tidying up her litter box, and giving her a treat helps to simmer the ache I carry and my longing for my kids a little bit. Playing a toss game with those hair ties for her to catch with her paws reminds me of playing with my kids in the park when they were little.

I'll admit, when my kids aren't here, I talk to Luna throughout the day. Saying things like "Good morning, Luna." "Come on, Luna, let's go get some coffee." and "Luna, I'll be back. I'm going to run errands." It might sound corny, but I can feel my body relax and feel calmer in her presence.

I know during my terrible divorce I would have loved to have Luna's eyes and whiskers to look at and soft fur to pet, her cuteness would have made me feel less lonely when my family was breaking apart.

Until Luna, I didn't know caring for a pet could uplift my mood each day. Becoming a cat person has become something I now love, and I only wish we had adopted one sooner.

• Will Smith previously credited his creative relationship with Alfonso Ribeiro with helping "transform" his life.
• The pair starred together in the classic '90s sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
• Ribeiro has now shared an insight into one acting tip that made a lasting impression on Smith.

"Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" star Alfonso Ribeiro has opened up on his creative relationship with Will Smith.

Appearing on "The Jennifer Hudson Show" this week, Ribeiro spoke about how he and the Oscar-winning actor created comedy gold on the classic '90s sitcom after Smith credited Ribeiro with helping change his life in a 2024 appearance on Vice's "Black Comedy in America."

In the December Vice episode, Smith heaped praise on Ribeiro's work ethic when they were rehearsing the show and shed light on a key acting tip Ribeiro gave him.

"Nobody commits as hard as Alf," Smith said. "We call it the 'comedic limb.' You know where you're going to try this joke, and you're going go out there with it, and you're going to risk it all. And one of his big things, why he would commit so hard with the lines, he says, 'You commit so the writers can know it doesn't work.'"

Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks, the preppy cousin of Smith's character in the show, told Hudson that it was "wonderful" to hear Smith's comments.

"Will is my brother for life and our friendship and bond has now withstood the time of four or five decades. He's absolutely the best," the 53-year-old continued, adding: "Part of it's true."

"I believe that part of what I received on 'Fresh Prince' was because of the hard work that I would put in. Going 100% in all rehearsals allowed writers to write better lines for me," he said.

He went on: "Other actors may not give 100%, and then you're on show night, and that joke that didn't work on Tuesday is still there on Friday, but because you never showed them it didn't work they kept it in the script, and then it bombed flat on the night."

Ribeiro added that he strived to have such an attitude not just with his work but with his entire life. "Anything less than being 100% just doesn't make sense to me."

"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" ran for six seasons between 1990 and 1996 and helped launch Smith's acting career.

The show was rebooted as "Bel-Air" on Peacock in 2022, with Jabari Banks taking on the main role as Will and Olly Sholotan playing Carlton.

• Ahead of St. Patrick's Day, I visited McSorley's Old Ale House, which was established in 1854.
• I was surprised by the inexpensive prices and the quality of the food.
• I was also surprised by how it made me feel pride as an Irish American. 

I've lived in New York City for almost six years, but I have never been to McSorley's, the oldest Irish pub in the city.

Not only is McSorley's the most historic Irish tavern in New York, but it's also often called the oldest Irish tavern in America that's still in operation. Established in 1854, McSorley's is celebrating its 171st anniversary this year, and it is certainly the place to go around St. Patrick's Day. 

Though famous, McSorley's hasn't always been on the right side of history. The New York Times reported that women have only been allowed inside the bar since 1970, when two members of the National Organization for Women sued the bar for violating the equal-protection ordinance of the 14th Amendment.

I wanted to visit the bar given its rich history and connection to my heritage. My grandparents were first-generation Irish immigrants who later moved to England. That fact, in combination with my very Irish name, makes me proud of the close connection to my heritage.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed my visit to McSorley's in 2023. If you choose to visit yourself, here are some things that might surprise you about the oldest Irish bar in the country. 

I was surprised by McSorley's location in a very modern section of the East Village.

While I expected to find McSorley's on a quaint cobblestone street given its history, it's located in a built-up section of the East Village on East 7th Street, by Astor Place.

I actually lived around the corner for a semester in college. This part of the East Village has very little old-world charm, thanks to its high-rise buildings, businesses, and chain restaurants, despite being just a stone's throw away from one of the city's most historic establishments. 

However, when Irish immigrant John McSorley founded the ale house in the 1850s, it was in a prime location close to a transportation hub for horse carriages and a busy market.

McSorley's is cash-only, which I learned when I arrived. There's an ATM right out front.

It's pretty standard at any cash-only bar or restaurant in New York City to find an ATM either inside or just outside the door.

I was pleased that they had an ATM available so close by, but I couldn't spy any signs inside that made it immediately apparent it was cash-only — I didn't suss it out until I saw everyone else paying in cash.

I expected to find a lot of Irish pub food, and I did, but McSorley's also had distinctly American foods like hot dogs and hamburgers.

The menu at McSorley's is limited, but they have quite a few fan-favorite menu items, from burgers and a fried chicken sandwich to more traditional items like corned beef hash and chili. 

I was also surprised by how low the prices were at McSorley's compared to what I usually pay in New York City. I ordered a hamburger and fries for $10, and two beers for $8. 

I was pleasantly surprised by the burger — I just wish the cheese had been more melted.

When I visited McSorley's, the bar was teeming with people and there were very few places to sit. I'm always a little hesitant about ordering bar food — you just never know what you're going to get, especially from places popular with tourists — but I was surprised by how much I liked the burger. 

The beef patty was juicy and large, while the onions and tomatoes tasted very fresh. The fries were also piping hot when I received them and deliciously crispy. The only downside, in my opinion, was that the cheese on the cheeseburger wasn't melted on the patty. 

However, for $10, I was pleased with my dinner. 

McSorley's has two options for alcoholic drinks — light or dark beer — and they serve two at a time per person.

I paid $8 for two beers, a light and a dark ale, which I was surprised by. I'm not a huge beer drinker, but even that seemed pretty inexpensive to me.

The beer prices have crept up over the years, of course.

When Business Insider's Sarah Jacobs visited in 2017, the beer cost $5.50. She noted that it cost only a dime per mug in 1940 and 35 cents for two half-pints in 1966.

Other guests also appeared to be surprised by their orders. When one guest ordered a light and a dark beer for himself and someone else, they seemed surprised when they were each handed two beers. The bartender explained they always give people two beers each.

The beers are much smaller than your average pint. Eater reported that each mug holds roughly 6 ounces per glass — a US pint holds 16 ounces — which makes each drink easier to finish and carry around the bar.

I enjoyed both the light and the dark ale, though I preferred the light. They went down smoothly, and I could see why someone would want two at a time. 

In addition to the low prices and historic feel, part of McSorley's charm is the lack of choice. In a city like New York, I'm accustomed to lengthy drink menus with steep prices. I actually enjoyed the lack of choice, which made ordering fast and simple.

I was also surprised by just how much history was crammed onto every inch of the walls.

Almost every inch of the walls was adorned with old photos, newspaper clippings, pictures of Irish American presidents, and festive St. Patrick's Day decorations.

The bar also houses a few other historical mementos, like Houdini's handcuffs and World War I-era wishbones dangling from a gas lamp above it.

I could have spent hours looking at every piece of art and history, and it made me feel proud of my Irish heritage. It felt as if I were in a living time capsule, surrounded by people who were there for a great time in one of the city's most historic spots.

The bartender who served me was Irish, making for an even more authentic experience.

Despite how busy the bar was, I was pleasantly surprised by the friendly and fast service I received from the bar staff and bouncer.

If you're looking for an immersive experience, you can't feel much closer to Ireland anywhere other than McSorley's. 

If you're unable to grab a spot inside, the restaurant has plenty of outdoor seating.

I wasn't surprised that when I visited a few days before St. Patrick's Day in 2023, finding a spot to sit inside the restaurant at prime time was a little difficult. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that as the night went on and it turned 8 p.m., tables started to open up. 

There was also a large outdoor dining area set up on the street outside, so finding a place to sit on busy days like St. Patrick's Day shouldn't be completely out of the question. 

Overall, I was most surprised by how visiting McSorley's made me feel connected to my Irish roots.

Before going to McSorley's myself, I half-expected to find a rowdy group of drunk people dressed up for St. Patrick's Day and drinking overpriced beer. What I experienced couldn't have been more different than my expectations.

There was a strong sense of pride and camaraderie in the bar, with customers happy to let others through to the bar, introduce themselves, or tip their Irish bartenders. I felt more connected to my own Irish heritage than I have in years, and proud of the role Irish people have played throughout history in this country and in New York City. 

As I made my way home, I thought to myself that I hoped McSorley's would be open for another 170 years. All I know is that they've made a returning customer out of me. 

This story was originally published in March 2023, and most recently updated on March 13, 2025.