Thank goodness! Summer has finally arrived in Wisconsin! It may be August, but it hasn't felt balmy until now. Heat - bring it on! I love it!
Sad stuff: Had to say "Good-bye" to my son, Jordan, who left yesterday to go back to Ocala, Florida to attend wrestling school.
He didn't want to go, but knew he had to, and it sparked memories of my college days, watching my mom cry as I drove away from that lonely farm in Wisconsin. It was bittersweet for me, as I wanted to stay for her but knew I had to get back to college to finish my teaching degree in Illinois. I guess Jordan must be feeling the same way. I wanted, as a mom, to go with him to ease the transition, but as always my own job kept me here. It makes me a bit angry and frustrated inside to realize that no matter how many years go by, my life is really not my own in terms of what I feel I want to do as a mother for my four children. Money is money, time is time, and the important things often are not given priority.
Speaking of important things, I had not heard from my friends David and Mary Ann Crook of Viola this year. David, Mary Ann, and I go back more than 20 years as horse lovers. David originally worked with my dad in the 80's, installing satellite dishes. I later learned that David was a horse enthusiast and trail rider, and this was the beginning of a long relationship that included endless trail rides, a horse named Bud, later an adopted horse named Jalind Rose, and many nights under the stars listening to music and sipping on Point beer after a good, long ride. Shockingly, today my sister sent me an obituary of David, who passed away on August 2. Yet another blow - another good friend of many years - who influenced my life in so many ways. David, 64, died of esophageal cancer. Hardly anyone knew he had been ill. I will pray for Mary Ann, his wife of 37 years, who must be so devastated at this time. A touching memory I have of David is when his father was sick, in his late 80's. David and Mary Ann lived next to him, and he was a widower. David took care of his dad all the days of his illness, and when he died, David was the man who personally carried his dad in his arms from the farmhouse to the vehicle that would transport him to the funeral home. Such love had this man - such devotion - it was simply amazing. So another great loss too early.
Fun News:
While Jordan was still home we took a boat ride out on the river. Rachel, Jordan, Craig and I enjoyed the evening sunset and the kids threw out a line. Jordan had a good feeling that he would catch something, and catch he did! A five pound catfish!
Rachel caught an almost-15 inch Walleye! Craig caught a catfish, mooneye, and I am happy to say that all fish survived the ordeal and were mercifully pitched back into the river (mom's along, that's what happens!).
We went to Duck Egg County Park to ride over the weekend. Cole, Remmie, Janimal, Fargo, and Cricket made the trip with us. I would like to say I had a great ride, but Cricket (the half-Arab that she is) spazzed out when we arrived over a herd of cattle that were hidden behind trees across the road when we were tacking up. She almost ran me over, head butted me, got herself into a full sweat, shaking and petrified, and was head butting me to avoid the tacking process. Guess I have never seen this kind of behavior out of her before, which made me fearful. Ah, give me the Standardbred! All three Standardbreds were perfect for the entire ride, and we rode back at sunset when the bats were circling around and every trail going through the woods brought pitch-black darkness. Jordan offered to ride Cricket, and I took my trusty gelding, Cole, the rest of the way home. We made a great memory!
I have nothing to report about the ACTHA ride - have had one response that said they would love to go - please give me your feedback?
Upcoming events:
Wild West Days parade - tonite at 6 pm
August 22 - Open horse show - Viroqua
Carriage Classic, Vernon County Fair, and Super Night - all in September.
Thanks to IHHA for their recent contribution to ASAP! Without them it wouldnt be possible!
Susan
