DM ad as it appeared in the September, 1998 CFA Almanac

by Deborah Parker, Seaflower Tonkinese (July 1998)
Just Us came to live with us in October of 1996 from Lori Gleisner (Almondize Tonkinese). When we picked him up at the airport, he came right to the front of his carrier and began purring. He was not the least bit ruffled from the long trip from Wisconsin. His adjustment to the new situation was immediate, and he quickly became one of our favorite cats. Here is how Lori remembers him:

"My contribution to this article is small compared to all the wonderful people who had a part in making this cat be who he is today. Most breeders know it takes dedication to achieve a good reputation and a well deserved title on a pedigree cat. The Tonkinese are no exception to the rule with the long road we've traveled to become recognized.
Just Us was given to me by a friend (now deceased), Ken Burke. Ken and I had met at a show in the Chicago area about 9 years ago. He was dedicated in getting the Tonkinese breed out of the minority group and achieve a National win with the very well known Spielzeit Watch The Chrysis of B4. Most of us know the story of how he missed being 25th best cat in the Country by less than 100 points. I believe he would have campaigned another Tonkinese if his health had been better.
Just Us was a son of "Chrys". His mother was a female Ken had gotten from Bonnie Smith in Ohio. Ken gave me Just Us as a kitten and I showed him along with my CMF, Nellie. I took both kittens to the Purina Invitational show in Texas and left with Just Us being the best Tonkinese kitten in show and Nellie being the second best Tonkinese kitten in show. It doesn't get any better than that.
Just Us went on to sire many good show cats as well as wonderful breeders. One of his famous offspring is GC,RW Almondize Gucci, who was the best Tonkinese in Championship in 1993-1994. This was a wonderful experience and I'm grateful that Just Us helped create such a beautiful cat.
In 1995 I had to move and Beth Cassely offered to help me out and gave Just Us a nice place to live (and spray) while I was in transition. For being so kind, I told Beth to go ahead and let Just Us breed a couple of her females so he wasn't so lonely. Again he helped produce some of Beth's best show cats. Once I was settled, Just Us came home and acted like he had never left. He settled right in.
Last year I decided two whole males were more than I could handle with the minimal amount of time I had. Even one whole male is a lot of work. That's when Debi and Clinton Parker came into the picture and gave Just Us his final "home". He received the best care and lots of love which made me feel very comfortable. It wasn't easy making the decision to give up any of my cats, especially this male that had helped produce some of the best Tonkinese in the Country. Not to mention, the cat I was given by a very dear friend that is now gone. Unfortunately people are sometimes faced with choices that are nearly impossible but knowing Just Us went to a wonderful home with Debi and Clinton made it easier.
Just Us was always a sweet and wonderful cat. He loved to roll over and have his tummy rubbed. He loved to be brushed and took cat baths very well. The few times he got to sleep with me in hotel rooms, he purred all night long.
So, this final step of Just Us earning his Distinguished Merit completes the picture. Ken Burke would be very proud and so am I.

Thanks to everyone that made this possible."

All of Just Us' kittens had his wonderful disposition, lovely aqua eyes, and beautiful light coats. They all look quite a bit like him, despite being out of females from different lines.

When we lost him to cancer July 31, 1997, we were truly heartbroken. We were very glad that he had bred most of our females, and we decided the best legacy to him would be to achieve a distinguished merit award. We knew it was a huge committment, and we decided to go for it. We granded 5 of his kids in the month of May 1998. Unknown to us, two other cats granded in April and May. We thought that we had two more cats to grand, until we received a certificate from the CFA central office stating that Just Us was now a DM! We were surprised and thrilled!

He officially became a DM at the Kittanning, Pennsylvania show on May 31, 1998 when his son, Seaflower's Dom Perignon became a Grand Premier. Since this is our wedding anniversary and Debi's birthday, it was even more special that it happened on this date.

We are currently showing two of his sons, Grand Premier Seaflower's Just In Time, and Grand Champion Seaflower's Totts. We also have three daughters and one son left to grand. Judy & Eric Thompson are showing a daughter, Grand Champion Seaflower's Diamante of Torador. There are many Just Us children around, some of which are close to granding. Just Us appears in many of the pedigrees of the breeders who are currently still showing, and some that are not.

Just Us was sire, grandsire or great grandsire of every Tonkinese National Best of Breed winner for the past 5 years (ever since he started siring). Also, he was sire or grandsire of many of the National 2nd BB winners during that period. He was the grandsire of GC,NW Torador's Antigone of Seaflower, DM - CFA's first national winning Tonkinese in championship. His son and first grand offspring, GC B4 Kipkat Jesse Justice of Torador, is also a new DM, making them the first father and son Distinguished Merit Tonkinese and numbers 5 and 6 for the total male DM's in the history of the breed. His loss to our breed will be keenly felt. He produced many of the highest scoring Tonkinese ever. We will miss him enormously, and feel truly blessed to have shared even a short interval in his life. His legacy will live on in his offspring.

We would like to thank everyone who helped Just Us achieve this title, and especially Ken Burke, who bred Just Us, and Laurie Gleisner who was his "mother" for most of his life.

Just Us's Grand offspring include (revised October 30, 1999):
(Note: Just Us is currently the highest producing Tonkinese DM with 21 grand offspring - 13 of which granded AFTER he had passed away!)

GC B4 Kipkat Jesse Justice of Torador, DM
owned by Judy & Eric Thompson

GP B4 Kipkat Twinkletoz of Broadrun
owned by Amy & Lauri Hyatt

GC Almondize Angelina of Tonkhaven
owned by Tammy Kritz

GC, RW Almondize Gucci (National Best of Breed)
bred and owned by Laurie Gleisner

GC Almondize Just Tina of Mistiff
owned by Paul, Sharon and Sherri Lyman

GC, GP, RW Almondize Just Like Lydia Deets
owned by Jessica and Judy Gearhart

GP Almondize Just Do It of Shadowvale
owned by Judy & Jessica Gearhart

GC, RW Purrtek's And Rossi (National 2nd Best of Breed)
bred and owned by Beth Cassely

GP Kasskats My Maria
owned by Michelle King, bred by Beth Cassely

GC, RW Kasskats Mozart (National 3rd Best of Breed)
bred and owned by Beth Cassely

GP Seaflower's Silver Cloud
bred and owned by Clinton & Deborah Parker

GP, RW Seaflower's Just In Time (Highest scoring ever Tonkinese in Premiership)
bred and owned by Clinton & Deborah Parker

GC, RW Seaflower's Totts, DM (National 3rd Best of Breed)
bred and owned by Clinton & Deborah Parker

GC Seaflower's Diamante
bred and owned by Clinton & Deborah Parker

GP Seaflower's Dom Perignon
bred and owned by Clinton & Deborah Parker

GC Seaflower's Silver Charm
bred and owned by Clinton & Deborah Parker

GC Almondize Just Minnie
owned by Don & Marge Pinkowski, bred by Laurie Gleisner

GP Seaflower's Teddy Rose-A-Velt
bred and owned by Clinton & Deborah Parker

GP Seaflower's Angelique (a one show grand)
bred and owned by Clinton & Deborah Parker

GP Almondize Just Another Champagne
bred and owned by Laurie Gleisner-Larson

GC Seaflower's Anastasia
bred and owned by Clinton & Deborah Parker

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