At this year's American Rottweiler Club's National Specialty in California, I had a chance to catch up with lots of folks we haven't seen in several years. One of those people was Marti Kemper who lives in California. Marti's girl went Winners Bitch, Best Of Winners and earned a Select at this year's National and, while she was happy, she seemed somewhat withdrawn. Not the way I'm used to seeing her. I asked her friend Ann Callahan if there was anything wrong and Ann told me that her oldest girl, Mandy, had died the week before the National.
I met Marti at the 2003 National in Greeley, CO where Marti was trying to title Mandy in Tracking. Photographing Tracking is not something that's done a lot and this was my first time so I had to learn how to follow the tracking team close enough to get some pictures but not so close that I distracted them from the task at hand. So, with my 70-200mm F2.8 Sigma and a 1.5 Teleconverter, I planted my self a few hundred yards away and followed the first team: Marti and Mandy. Here's a shot of them just before Mandy picked up the first article.
Two more articles and Mandy had successfully finished her Tracking title and I caught a shot of everyone's joyful response including the judge's (lady with the clipboard).
And Marti's joy being shared with Mandy on the way back to the starting point.
After I hugged Marti and gave her my condolences she asked if there was any way I had that shot of her and Mandy from the 2003 National (the last in the series) and I said "I hope so." Well, I do. And these will make a lovely memory for a girl that lived her life well for over 13 years. Goodbye, Mandy, you'll always be in my heart.
Jim
