I've had animals of every description ever since I can remember. The usual dogs and cats as I was growing up, but interspersed along the way, gophers, lizards, birds, fish, and anything that wound up in our yard.
As I got older, horses, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits and cattle were added. After I got out of the Marine Corps, I was the first female hired by the Randolph Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona. I fell in love with the big cats there. I wound up with Marmoset monkies and a kinkajou of my own. After that, I went on to work for a wild animal filming company, MHP Studios, based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. My travels covered from Mexico to Alaska, working with all animals indigenous to the Rocky Mountain region. We made full length films....Cougar Country, Jeremiah Johnson (got to work with Robert Redford), Toklat, and a few TV shows.
During that time I was able to see one of the beginning lines of the Bengals being born. Our vet, Bill Engal and his mother were doing that.
In 1985, I was given a gift of a silver Persian, which started me on the road to cat glory! I eventually found my way to the show halls, where I lost my heart to the Exotic Shorthairs. I finally got my foundation stud and a female in 1991, and have raised and shown them in TICA, ACFA and CFA. Due to eventual ill health and financial problems, I now only have 2 cats...the last of my bloodline. In the meantime, I must live vicariously thru others experiences in the halls! I still enjoy going to see my friends and all their lovely cats being shown.
In 2002, I went into business with a lady who was going to pay my bills in lieu of salary til we got the business up and running well. That never happened. I came home one day to find all my belongings in the driveway. My partner had dumped me. I had nowhere to go. I was homeless. I had lost my home, my car, and all my savings. I had to quickly place all of my beloved cats. That was so difficult to do. My friend took 3 of them while I was in the shelter.
I went to the Arlington Life Shelter where I stayed for 13 weeks. I then went into GRACE Transitional Housing Program. Since the Program Manager could see that my cats were a part of me, she got the rules changed so I could bring 2 of them with me. Due to failing health, I took early retirement in 2005. In 2004, a member of God's Decorating Squad bought me a Husqvarna Viking monogram machine, and I repaid her by sewing things for her til it was paid off. I have a small embroidery business of my own now, and have the last 2 of my beloved cats, Shoe , and Going for The Gusto aka Gus or Gustopher living with me. Shoe loves to fetch, and will cry when she wants to play and can't find her 'sparkle' for me to throw. Gus is the lovebug and wants to be in my lap all the time. I miss having all my other cats, but living in government housing for senior citizens it is forbidden to have any more pets, so I just enjoy my 2 babies every day.
