The term "friend" is a small word, but has so much meaning behind it. I hope that I can find the right words to describe Les and what she means to me. Les had a brightness about her that shined through and a great sense of humor. The term I can use to best describe that brightness is that it was in her spirit touching our lives with a gentle hand of tenderness, wisdom and most importantly, love and affection. Years ago, I was asked by a friend in Oregon if I would go and look at a bengal kitten for her at a bengal breeder's home up the road from me. I am a (Christmas 2008)  llama breeder with a large livestock background and my only experience, at that time, with cats was strictly related to many a beloved barn cat over my lifetime. I thought to myself, well, an eye for quality never changes, it remains the same from animal to animal. So, I was game to see this wonderful bengal kitten I was told about. I drove to Les' house and as soon as we met, we hit it off. She introduced me to her cats (Junglebook Fairy Dust of WinsomeBG above) and I immediately felt that I had just witnessed quality at its finest and a taste of the wild. It was beautiful. After viewing the cats, we sat down and our conversation turned to livestock. Les had a successful background in breeding high quality sheep and I with llamas. We began to exchange stories, answer questions, etc. I left and came home with the feeling that I had just met a friend for life. I returned 2 weeks later and bought my first marble bengal pictured below, Junglebook Fastrack of Winsome BG, a gift for my husband. (Junglebook Glitterbug of WinsomeBG above) I quickly became enamored with this wild looking and gentle cat. I was fascinated with Les' stories of her first cats and experiences. Her contribution to the bengals of today is evident by her passion to paint with her own vision. Les was a dear friend to me. She was kind, understanding and above all else loving. I valued her friendship in my life, it seems strange not to be able to pick up the phone and call her now. She listened so carefully and always took the time out of her day. If you asked Les for her opinion, she was always a straight shooter and I loved that about her. She never complained and she never lost hope. (18 year old Rachel shown above, Les' beloved F2. She is living the rest of her life out here on the end of my bed and in my lap.) I want to remember Les as the quiet warrior that she was.   Her battles were many and fierce, but her glory, her triumphs were in her winning life each day over the last 8 years while battling cancer.   I am honored that she chose to share those glories and those triumphs with me, by being my friend. REST IN PEACE, LES, I KISS THE GIRLS FOR YOU EVERY DAY! (May 6, 1941 to April 14, 2009) Junglebook Funny Bones of WinsomeBG