 |
 |
Two Men and a Little Lady BY JAN & ED CHAMBERS Published February 2013
Photos copyrighted by the individual photographers
Our story begins in 2004 when we read an email announcement on the Exotic cat list. Patty Stewart of Panei Persians and Exotics was looking for a forever home for her stunning white Exotic spay, GP Panei's Whispurr Sweet Secrets, who had just became a 4-ring Grand Premier. Back in Texas, I was "dreamin' of a White Christmas"... and it seemed to me that perhaps my "white" might be the little girl in the email. I contacted Patty and with the recommendation of a mutual friend we were "matched". Little did we know what was to follow — and the wonderful things this white zot and her two "brothers" would accomplish. The Little Lady Now nicknamed "Divinity", we began showing our "Little Lady" in TICA. Our captivating girl was Best In Show in her first 6 outings, including the TICA Annual show. We were stunned. We knew she was a fabulous Exotic, but never dreamed that she would show so well. We had to rethink the goals and aspirations we had set for her. We felt that she might have what it would take to be TICA’s next Alter of the Year!
I should explain that my husband. Ed, and I were not new to the cat fancy or to titling and claiming wins. We had shown cats that became International Winners for the three previous years in TICA. One kitty had also earned a CFA regional win, and most of our alters were dual titled TICA Supremes and CFA Grands. So we were experienced exhibitors. What was different that year, however, was the cat. Divinity was born to show. She loved to go and loved to show and there was never a moment when she didn’t thoroughly enjoy herself, whether on the table, in the benching area, at the hotels, or in the midst of traveling. I’d like to be able to tell you about the strategy of Divinity's first campaign, about poring over the show schedule choosing between shows and judging slates, scoping out the competition, making lots of calculations — but there really was none of that. We simply brought her to the shows we could and she did the rest. Her accomplishment as TICA's Alter of the Year was not only an amazing feat for us, still relatively new to the cat fancy, but also for the Exotic breed. But Divinity's story doesn't end with her newly awarded title of TICA Alter of the Year 2006... The following year, we decided she deserved the opportunity to earn the TICA Lifetime Achievement Award (LA). She already had the required International Win and an RW, so she only needed two more Regional Wins to qualify. She earned a second International Win by placing 10th Best Alter in 2007, thus adding a second RW. Now she just needed one more. We were concentrating on showing our Exotics in CFA, so there was a pause before we showed Divinity in TICA again. In 2012, on "spare" weekends (are there any spare weekends during an intense CFA campaign season?), we took Divinity to TICA shows so she could earn her third RW, completing the requirements to add the LA title to her name. We had become more heavily involved with CFA during Divinity's last season in TICA by attempting a trial run with another of our boys to figure out the scoring, competition level, etc. Once we thought we were up to speed with the differences between the registries along with earning a couple of CFA Regional wins, we took Divinity back out to attempt our first CFA National campaign at the beginning of 2008. We determined that 4000 points would be needed to easily assure her of an NW in Premiership, so that was our goal for the year. By January she had already met our goal. What would we do the rest of the season? While we still took her to a few more rings, we turned our focus to another youngster Patty had recently given to us... The Two Men Patty called him "Cookie". We called him "Linc". His official name was Panei's Black Tie Affair, a precious little black and white Exotic. Linc's father is Divinity's granddad, so they are closely related, but his personality is quite different from hers. Linc is the clown — always doing something silly and animated. Divinity is NOTHING like him. While she is prim and proper and believes in always acting dignified, her baby bro' never got the dignity genes... We thought it would be fun to take him out to the shows although he was still maturing. He surprised us by how well he did, earning his first Regional Win in CFA in 2009.
While we were showing Linc, Patty decided to retire Divinity's litter-brother from her breeding program. She suggested that once GC Panei's Whispurr Sweet Nothings was neutered, he might join his sister in our forever home. That's how we came to welcome "Whispurr" into our family right before the 2008 CFA International Cat Show in Atlanta, GA, our new home base.
The Family Reunion Patty and her daughter, Michelle, were flying to Atlanta for the International show. This was the first time we met each other in person! We were so excited for her to see Divinity, Linc and Whispurr in their new home. We had entered all three of the zots in the show, and Patty entered Linc's young son. Two friends flew out from Pennsylvania and from Texas with two other Panei kitties. We had a huge 2 and 4 footed family reunion at our home. What a great weekend it was — definitely one of the highlights of my life in the cat fancy! Whispurr's Run When the new season started in 2009, Linc was still not "ready" for his turn at a national campaign, so we decided to take Whispurr out to some shows while the youngster was still maturing. We never had any intention of running Whispurr for a National Win, but thought surely that he could accomplish something on the regional level. Whispurr is the ultra-dignified one of the group, always patient, always doing what is expected of him, always waiting for the cue to climb the pole or look at the judge with his huge copper eyes. Unlike Divinity, who never met anyone she didn't immediately love, Whispurr is more reserved, not so outgoing, and we never were quite sure how much he enjoyed his showing experience. We thought perhaps he'd rather be lounging at home. Were we surprised when he soared up in the national rankings and accomplished our second National Win in CFA. Even more exciting was the fact that Divinity and Whispurr, both white littermates from one of Patty's litters, earned back to back CFA National Wins!
Baby "Brother's" Turn With the start of the 2010-2011 show season, we couldn't help but wonder what was in store for Linc, who had matured into a beautiful Exotic. Could he possibly walk in the large pawprints left by his white cousins? We wanted to give him the same opportunity we gave to them. Little did we know that there were two other black and white Exotics whose owners were considering a national campaign as well. What were the chances that would happen? In the end, only one of the two decided to try for it. Linc and the other zot battled it out now and then at shows. It was a friendly competition. With a bit of strategy, both boys were successful national winners. Linc earned his CFA National Win, just as Divinity and Whispurr had before him!
The Final Tally Our three Exotics did us proud. Between 2005 and 2012, showing in both TICA and CFA, they earned an incredible number of titles...
Is it all over now? Hardly! All three have made numerous appearances at shows in the past couple of years. Recently I took them to a show to help support our newest boy, GC, GP Ivy Cat Quarterback, in his quest for a National Win. They both made finals along with Quarterback!
Divinity and Whispurr are 9 1/2 years old now. Linc is six. All three are still as precious to us as that first moment when they wormed their way into our lives, into our home and our hearts! Can you imagine how thrilled we were to be a part of all of this? Two Men and a Little Lady, were sent to us as gifts from someone we didn't even know... we spent years in the show halls with them... the trophy shelf is lined with the treasures of their campaigns. We have it all because I dreamed of a "white" Christmas all those years ago, and Patty fulfilled that dream with that little bundle of joy we call "Divinity". Divinity, Whispurr and Linc have left indelible footsteps in the history of the cat fancy, and pawprints forever etched in our hearts! The Real Winners If I had to write about the most important thing learned from these wonderful experiences with all three of these kitties, it would be this; it’s not really just about the cats and their wins or the titles earned. It’s about the journey. This is a hobby, a weekend entertainment, and all too often people lose sight of this in their quest for the almighty points. That doesn’t mean we didn’t strive mightily for goals and work towards them each year with each cat, but there is a definite line between hobby and obsession. Every now and then that truly special feline comes along that deserves the chance to tempt you to cross over that line. How lucky we have been to have found not one, but more. Our Two Men and a Little Lady were each "that special cat" and the roller coaster ride of each of their campaign years is filled with memorable moments – the shows, the people, the competition and the times spent with each of them.
So it’s not the win, the title, the trophy, or the walk across the stage that will be forever treasured, but it’s the opportunity to share the adventure with those that made it happen! And, Patty, this story is for you - for giving Divinity, Whispurr and Linc a wonderful start in life and for loving each of them enough to them them go. We can never thank you enough for the wonderful gifts you have given to us!
LA SGCA (TICA),
GP NW (CFA) Copper-Eyed White Persian Spay TICA’s 2005-2006 International Alter of the Year 2005-2006 CFA Gulf Shore Region’s 14th Best Cat in Premiership 2005-2006 Sire:GC Panei's Sweet Talking Guy, DM ------
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: GC, GP, NW Panei's Whispurr Sweet Nothings Copper-Eyed White Persian Neuter CFA’s 21st Best Cat in Premiership 2009-2010 Sire:GC Panei's Sweet Talking Guy, DM
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: GC, GP, NW Panei's Black Tie Affair Black & White Persian Neuter CFA Southern Region’s 19th Best Cat in Premiership 2008-2009 Sire: GC Grandaries Tuxedo Sam of Panei, DM
Photos at the top and bottom of this page are by Helmi Flick
|
 |
Legal Disclaimer | Report A Broken Link or Typo : : : : : : : : : : : : : : |
 |