About Whisperun… how it all began.
Mrs. Page giving an award to Ch. Guys N Dolls Miss Adelaide. Handled by Breeder/Owner Neil Weinstein...Click on photo to enlarge
In 1970, I was taking Hunt Seat lessons from a young woman named Sherry Templin who had been the top Huntseat Equitation rider in the state of Arizona for three years running. Sherry had also been the number one Stock Seat Equitation rider in Arizona for the previous seven years. She had warned me to stay clear of Mrs. Frederica Lewis Page, who was the owner of the barn, arena and property where her father trained and they lived. I tried to comply with that admonition, but one day as I was riding back to the barn from the arena, I had to pass Freddy Page’s home. There she was getting out of her full sized Chevrolet Station wagon, and she was holding these unbelievably gorgeous dogs. They were whippets. I was just mesmorized when I saw those elegant animals. They were so profoundly beautiful, with lovely and unique lines. At that moment, I threw the admonition to stay clear of her right out the window. I rode over, and introduced myself, as I had to get a closer look at those gorgeous dogs. We became friends from that moment, and on until she died, a nearly forty year friendship. Mrs. Page, as I called her, was my mentor in whippets. Her kennel name was “FARVEL”, which is french for farewell. Mrs. Page, had owned over forty breeds of dogs through her lifetime and when she discovered whippets, she knew it would be her last breed. She used to say to me that “Whippets are the best kept secret.” I believed that saying wholeheartedly. Through the years, Mrs. Page taught me the intricacies of showing dogs, breeder secrets, and many other things. I lived on her property two summers, and stayed and cared for her animals when she was away on AKC judging assignments. Her affect on my life was profound, and continues to this day. Hardly a day passes that she is not on my mind.
The following poem exemplifies how I strive to live my life. Originally written by Kent M. Keith and published in 1968 in his booklet for student leaders titled The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council. The original title was “The Paradoxical Commandments.” Over time, as these were shared among people, the wording was varied, but the version that Mother Teresa displayed on the wall at her Children’s home in Calcutta, was entitled “Anyway”
Do It Anyway