Scene Magazine
Winds of change have a way of whipping up the unexpected, the out-of-the-oridnary. So when Hurricane David blew a 4-pound squirrel out of its nest and into Chuck and Lou Ann Bests’ lives in 1978, few could have forecasted the phenomenon unfolding.
“Some friends found her after the storm,” said Lou Ann Best. “We just kept her warm and fed her. She was probably about six weeks old at the time.”
Avid water-skiers from Sanford, Fla., the Bests began riding a wave of success by concocting a nutty notion: using their daughter’s remote-controlled boat to teach their furry new friend to ski. “Twiggy” took it from there.
Named for her penchant to render houseplants leafless and “twiggy,” the domesticated fur ball swims up to the boat, grips the towline with both paws, stands tall and skims through 6 inches of warm water at top speeds of 5-6 mph. This weekend, Twiggy and Best make one of their favorite tour stops: the Cleveland Mid-America Boat Show at the I-X Center.
“Our Cleveland show is the longest running,” says Best. “This is our 14th straight year here, and the response is always tremendous. There are people who come to the shows every year, and they make a point to see Twiggy.” Show goers will have 17 chances throughout the 10-day run to catch’s Twiggy’s gig.
Squirrelly life spans being relatively brief, the present Twiggy, 6, is the fourth to bear the name and attain the fame. The first Twiggy lived 9 ½ years. “We taught the first one and everyone started bringing us all these orphan squirrels, so I’ve taken in a lot over the years,” says Best. “They’re not all as trainable, they’re not all as lovable as Twiggy. It’s just that people bring ’em to me.”
With more Twiggys-in-training back in Florida, carrying on this tradition should be a breeze. – Jeff Woodard
The Cleveland Mid-America Boat Show runs from Jan. 19-28 at the I-X Center. Admission is $8 for adults ($16 for a three-day pass), $3.50 for children 6-14 and free for children 6 and younger. Senior discounts are also available. For more information, call 440-899-5009 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.