Day 2
Cookie Jar
Memory:
“Horseback
riding on Thanksgiving &
a broken collar
bone for Beth”
“Back
in the day”, as the “hip” in-crowd modern-speak goes, we had a precocious four
year old helplessly in love with horses. I was twenty-four with some “hobbies”
outside my family; in those days, and, for several decades to follow, I did a
fair amount of shooting expanding the pleasure into reloading shotgun shells
along with centerfire ammunition for rifle and pistol.
Beth’s
fourth Thanksgiving Day celebration found our Nanny preparing a family feast
and “horse-crazy” daughter wanting to visit the farm and ride her Lady-Belle
Welsh Pony. We journeyed to the stable where Dad tacked-up the little white
horse, hoisted the “wild” cowgirl aboard and sent her on an adventure while I
busied myself cleaning stalls, placing alfalfa in the manger and allocating
a three pound coffee can of pelleted grain
into Lady’s feed trough.
I
also found time to set up straw bales a hundred yards from the barn to use as a
backstop for target shooting as I tested various amounts of different powder
charges and bullet weights and designs I had reloaded. I intended to shoot on a
day when babysitting did not occupy my mind.
As
an hour passed, I kept an eye out for my kittle cowgirl and her steed to return.
No sign.
Finally,
here comes my little girl in her bright yellow winter coat---leading her white
bronc!
Beth
was not at all upset. Gee! I must have been a poor excuse for a mature
father-figure.
My
“Darling” had dried grass in her hair and her yellow garment was garnished with
brown.
“I
fell off Lady!” She announced, proudly, blonde-hair glowing, white teeth
sparkling.
We
never did ascertain exactly what had happened, but, the best guess is that Lady
bent her head low to munch some freeze-dried grass which caused our Beth to
tumble down the old nag’s neck and over her bowed head onto the winter-dried
forage; it could be that she might have held the reins too short, not allowing
them to slide as the horse stretched forward to graze!
I put Ole Lady away to feed on her hay and
grain as a “reward” and took Beth home to Mom.
Turns
out, the little girl had suffered a fractured collar bone. Oh! Great!
So
much for her mature babysitter; I truly thought that the kid could
ride---like…the wind; not, “in” the wind---literally!
She
recovered, nicely, and, before Christmas, she straddled Ole Lady for more
adventures, nearly all absent any “serious” repercussions. (Guess they decided not to allow “Dad” to babysit---un-supervised…anymore?)
Focused!
She was---and, still…Is! Now, she rides a law desk---from which…she has not
been dislodged. She still rides the nags with authority as does kid-sister,
Becky, along with our Miss Lauren and Anna Marie, Becky’s girls, and Miss Lexi,
Beth’s daughter. Each an accomplished equestrian in their own right. Z. Tyler
has “forked” a steed now and then, also. They could ride the wild-wind, if, Dad
could only figure out how to saddle it! (If I could; I would!)
What
a “Quality” family! Amen!
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