Riding Time

The boys are off at school. It was a tad sad, says I who spent almost the entire day after they left in bed, wallowing in a fit of depression. But eventually I began to smile again. And now I notice the house is cleaner, I don't have to shut doors to keep the boys out, I can go to sleep and not hear the pounding of the stereo base. I still miss them, but I'm also enjoying a new kind of freedom.

Last week I disappeared to Blowing Rock with some friends of mine. We brought our horses (Beth's husband is a real trouper for putting up with all us women and our beasts) and settled into a small bed & breakfast that we rented. This was wonderful because we were the only ones there and thus we were able to use the kitchen for our breakfasts and lunches.

Off to the stables - full of color and life. Our equines were buzzing and excited about being away from home. Everyone gets jazzed on a trip. Like us in the house, each had their own room to relax in once our daily ride was done.

We rode under God's canopy, snippets of sunlight bursting through the pewter clouds heavy with water. Leaves all shades of green overhead while the ground was dusty. It was dry country. Everyone wished it would rain. But it didn't.

On we road around the trails in Moses Cone park. Up to the big house overlooking the lake. Circling up the mountain to the peak to view the valleys. Then down again to the lake to watch the geese.

The soft noises of the horse, sneezes, breathing, clopping of hooves. Tension drains from you -- until a deer leaps and the horse sees. HA That's enough to tuck your toes and push down your heels.

Horses grazing among the flowers and bees. Harmony between all creatures. What do they know that we humans don't?