Conference misery::feline

670.0. "In loving memory" by DPDMAI::MARQUETTE () Thu Dec 02 1993 11:26

                            In Memory of 'Glimmer'
    
    
    Into every breeder's life comes that one special kitten.  The one that 
    immediately steals your heart, and makes you just say, "Wow."  
    Purrquett Glimmer 'O' Hope was that kitten for us.
    
    We had never had a "show quality" kitten of our own breeding.  In fact, 
    we had only owned two marginal show cats before.  Glimmer's mother was, 
    to say the least, a pet; pedigreed, but a pet.  She had produced only 
    breeder quality off-spring to date, and that was when bred with fairly 
    good males.  So it was indeed a shock to find this 'no nose' kitten 
    with dynamite pattern (cream & white bi-color).  We were at once very 
    optimistic, but also very reserved, understanding that our initial 
    impression could be somewhat biased (although we all know breeders 
    would never be biased about their babies).  It would take four months 
    to find out.
    
    We got the chance to test his 'traveling ability' when we went on 
    vacation.  Since he was a very finicky eater, we did not want to leave 
    him with our cattery help.  So at 2 months of age, Glimmer accompanied 
    us to Florida.  23 hours in the car and he purred for 20 of those until 
    he finally fell asleep.  Traveling was not going to be a problem.  Of 
    course, the people at the motel thought we were a little strange 
    bringing our 'pet' on vacation with us.  As time went by we found that 
    Glimmer really enjoyed the travel, especially the hotel rooms, where he 
    couldn't wait to get out and explore.
    
    Well, the big day came.  His first kitten show, a small show in Irving, 
    TX.  He went into the week-end as a 4 month old three and a half pound 
    ball of fluff.  One of our local friends, seeing him for the first time 
    (even though we had talked about him a lot) told Sylvia, "You said he 
    was good, you didn't say he was cute and wonderful."  First ring up, an 
    allbreed, under Craig Rothermel, and Glimmer gets called into the 
    final.  We are ecstatic, to say the least.  The count-down begins; 
    10th, 9th, 8th,..., when Glimmer was taken out in 4th, we were already 
    nervous, but when the judge then announced "Best Kitten", I thought 
    Sylvia would faint.  The rush of being Best in your first ring is just 
    indescribable.  Now isn't it amazing how attitudes can change 
    overnight?  We went into that show thinking, "Wouldn't it be great to 
    get into 2 or 3 finals", and came away disappointed, because the last 
    judge (out of 8) did not use him.  Glimmer was high scoring kitten at 
    that show, and Sylvia and I were hooked for life.
    
    Of course every week-end was not as exciting, but many were great!  One 
    of the highlights was placing 3RD in the Gulf Shore Regional Qualifier 
    and attending the very first CFA/Purina National Invitational Show.  
    We had fun as Glimmer went on to be 3rd Best Kitten in the Gulf Shore 
    Region, and actually ranked 44th nationally.  Not bad for a first 
    timer, being shown by people who really weren't sure what they were 
    doing.  I mean, we knew nothing about selecting shows based on things 
    like past counts and judging line-ups.  We just went where our friends 
    went and had a good time. 
    
    Next came championship competition.  As fate would have it, there was 
    another bi-color Persian male in our area who was the same age as 
    Glimmer, but had not shown much as a kitten.  They both came out as 
    Opens at the same show and we split rings with the other boy.  So, 
    ironically, it took two shows to become a Champion, but then he granded 
    in the next 2 shows.  After achieving Grand Champion, we slacked off 
    showing as often. Although he seemed to really enjoy the shows, we 
    figured he deserved a rest.  It was a mistake.  We only went to three 
    more shows as a grand, and discovered we missed a regional championship 
    award by less than 300 points.  Live and learn.
    
    Glimmer then retired from the show circuit.  Shaved down and introduced 
    to studding, he was definitely a slow beginner.  He was nearly 2 years 
    old before he successfully sired his first litter.  That litter 
    produced a promising cream male kitten and a calico female.  We called 
    the new boy Sneak Preview, as we were hoping this was a sign of things 
    to come.  However, Sneaky began tipping his tongue, and never saw the 
    inside of a show hall.
    
    Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of the heart-break around 
    Glimmer's off-spring.  Over the next two years, several litters were 
    born, with disturbingly short life spans.  There were lots of cute 
    babies, but they were dying within 1 to 3 weeks, sometimes within days.  
    After a few posts, it was diagnosed as congenital heart defects.  We 
    also tried letting Sneaky breed, but with only slightly better results.  
    We took the only responsible action we could; Glimmer (and Sneaky) 
    became alters.  To date, there are only three Glimmer children left 
    (two alters and one breeding female), and one Glimmer grand-child (a 
    Sneaky son).  We are hoping the heart condition has been bred out, but 
    only time will tell.  We also began to suspect that Glimmer himself may 
    have had a mild heart condition.  He never was a very playful kitten, 
    opting instead to just love on "his" people.  We never gave it much 
    thought until the problems started showing up in his kittens.
    
    We decided that now it was time to try showing in premiership.  Here we 
    go again.  Another small show, this time in Houston.  As an Open, he 
    made 4 out of 6 finals, including a Best in an allbreed ring.  After 
    the show, one of the judges said to us, "You ARE going to run him, 
    aren't you?"  We had talked about what it would be like to campaign for 
    a national win, but I don't think we got serious about it until then.  
    So we decided, once granded, we would consider the possibility.  Due to 
    the small premiership count in our local shows, it took three shows to 
    grand.  As is usually the case, he went into the third show needing 13 
    points, and scored 57 in that show alone. (For those non-exhibitors, it 
    requires 75 points to become Grand Premier in CFA.)
    
    The grand title came just in time for the Regional Qualifier.  Despite 
    not being used in one ring (by the same judge who did not use him in 
    his first kitten show), Glimmer was high scoring cat in Premiership.  
    In fact, when we got the Almanac, we discovered he was the highest 
    scoring across all seven qualifiers!  We decided then that a national 
    campaign was the way to go.
    
    Now a word of caution to anyone considering campaigning.  Not only does 
    your kitty have to travel well, but so do you!  Over the next 5 months, 
    Glimmer competed in shows in 13 different states, basically hitting all 
    four corners of the U.S.  Some shows great, some just good, and some 
    were the pits.  If you can keep up, here is the list of cities, in 
    order, where he went: Atlanta, Colorado Springs, Indianapolis, 
    Ft. Lauderdale, Dayton, Fort Worth (for the CFA Invitational), Raliegh 
    (NC), Columbus (OH), Howell (MI), Ft. Worth, Toledo, Cleveland, 
    San Diego, Parsippany (NJ), Portland, Harrisburg (PA), Malibu, Timonium 
    (MD), Pomona (CA) and San Francisco.  (While he was granding, he also 
    went to Little Rock and Jackson (MS), and our qualifier was in Oklahoma 
    City, bringing the number of states to 16).  Since I only went to a few 
    shows (Sylvia did most of the showing), I think Glimmer has more air 
    miles than I do.  At this point, we had climbed to 11th place 
    nationally (they award 15 places in premiership), and we still had some 
    bad shows to replace.  With only a few weeks to go, it was looking like 
    a national win was definitely attainable.
    
    Suddenly, the wheels came off; Glimmer became ill.  He began losing 
    weight, and his eating habits became very irregular.  The San Francisco 
    Revelers' Show was his last outing.  The eating problems continued, so 
    off to the vet for a serious check-up.  The results were devastating; 
    tests confirmed Glimmer had a large heart murmur (as we had suspected), 
    and was suffering from congestive heart failure.  The vet could not 
    tell us how long Glimmer could or would live.  Sylvia and I were numb; 
    we could not believe this was happening, and the feeling of 
    helplessness was overwhelming.  I guess, looking back now, we were 
    lucky to have had him for the time we did.
    
    Two weeks shy of his fifth birthday, Glimmer passed away peacefully in 
    his sleep on Easter Sunday.
    
                                       
           Grand Champion, Grand Premier Purrquett Glimmer 'O' Hope
                        April 27, 1988 - April 11, 1993
    
                  3RD Best Kitten, Gulf Shore Region, 1988-89
                            Ranked 44th Nationally
    
            2ND Best Cat in Premiership, Gulf Shore Region, 1992-93
                            Ranked 19th Nationally
    
    
    At his final show, San Francisco Revelers, they awarded silver bowls to 
    the finalist, with Best receiving a fairly large bowl.  When Vickie 
    Dickerson made him Best, she put him in the bowl on the judging table.  
    Glimmer turned around 2 or 3 times, then curled down in the bowl, and 
    propped his head on the rim looking out at the audience as Vickie 
    draped the rosette over him.  With a place forever in our hearts, he 
    will always be remembered for the phrase we heard time and again from 
    spectators and judges alike; "Just look at that face!"
    

    What a wonderful testimonial for Glimmer. I'm still sniffling from
    reading it, but it was beautiful.
    
    You didn't sign your note, and when I looked up your last name in ELF,
    I only found one Marquette, so I'm assuming your name is Bob. I just
    want you to know, that even though your little Glimmer went to kitty
    heaven a while ago, I'm going to add him to the Silver Lining Memorial
    for this quarter. I hutnk he desreves to be remembered with our other
    furry friends.
    
    Love,
    
    Yonee

    Bob,
    
    What a beautiful tribute, and it really hit home with me.  I lost two
    Ragdoll kittens and a Birman cat to heart failure, but I didn't have
    them as long as you had Glimmer.   Be thankful for that time you had
    with him... it was long and most important, filled with the love and
    comforts of a quality life.  That's what really counts.
    
    There is a chance his remaining offspring will never develop a heart
    disease.   I still have Kelsey, litter brother to the two Ragdolls who
    passed on.  Kelsey is almost 5 1/2.
    
    Thank you for sharing Glimmer's memory with us.  It was extremely
    touching.
    
    -Roberta
      

    That was a beautiful tribute to Glimmer.  I just lost my 4.5 year old
    Birman to heart disease, so I know what you went through.  I envy you
    the fact that you did not have to make that awful decision, but that
    Glimmer went peacefully on his own.
    
    Glimmer did have a wonderful life with you, and that's the important
    thing to remember.
    
    Steffi

    Sniff...
    
    That was lovely.  Glimmer was very lucky to have had you.  May his
    memory remain in your heart forever.
    
    - Lauri
    

    That truly was beautiful.  I have never met you at a show that I know
    of.  I could never afford to campaign a cat such as you have.  But 
    from the amount of showing that I do, I fully understand the depth
    and heights that you attained while showing.  So much of your heart
    and life goes into an animal like this.  One can't really describe 
    the full feeling you get in your heart when the cat is beautiful 
    enough to run the gammut and then on top of it, be the most beautiful
    cat to you in merely it's existance (show stuff aside).  You are very
    lucky to have been able to share your life with such a beautiful
    and loving creature.  Nothing can compare to the heartbreak of losing
    one such as this.  My sympathies...and empathy.  I had lost a cat once
    that a year later I recieved International Best's on, I understand...
    I cried when I got them, for him.
    Karen