On March 1st, 2010, my friend Walter and I set off on an adventure with my Arabian horse, Sojourner. I rode Soj across America and Walter drove our little truck (with no trailer). The trip began in Los Angeles, California and successfully ended in Bath, New Hampshire 8 months and 14 days later. It was a 3,700 mile ride.

We rode in celebration of family and as an outreach to those dealing with divorce-related depression.

This ride tells a tale of love in many forms - through the people we meet along the way, our connection with the horse, with the land, and with each other.

As this blog goes on it gets more and more in depth with tons of photos and experiences. Snuggle in with a cup of tea and read this like a book. I have switched the blog around so it reads start to finish so you don't have to read backward (except the first entry).

Here is our story...

Sweet dreams...

10/16/10

You know those days when all you think about from the moment you get up in the morning until the evening is when you can get back into bed because you are so darn tired? That's how I have felt today. We have had such a wonderful day and I have lots to tell, and in fact have been writing a lot in Word so I can post a blog, but I still have the photos to edit and I just wasn't able to get to it today. So...I will have an entry up tomorrow. I just can't do it all now. I'm so very sleepy and for some reason haven't been able to kick this sleepy feeling all day.

The time has finally come where I am back in a comfy wonderful bed and I am so happy about it. I do love (oh so very much love) and adore sleep.

I just got some sad news that Stephen, who has worked so selflessly and hard on setting up stops on this ride for us, had to put his cat, Lola, down today. It was so difficult for him. She was very old and had a blood clot in her back leg that paralyzed her and caused her a lot of pain. Lola was a wild cat off of the hillside that Stephen was able to coax in after a very long time so she was especially close to him. She was quite a talker, this little Lola (goodness gracious could she ever meow!!), but she was also incredibly affectionate, had a lot of personality, a lot of trust, and a lot of heart.

It's never easy to lose an animal and it's so hard to make the decision to put one down. I know you're reading this, Stephen, and I wish I could take away some of your sadness. You gave her quite a life.

A vet once wrote in a card to us when we had to put our dog, Bos'n, down and it said, "Love lives forever; it never dies". That card made me feel so much better. You gave her enough love to fill the universe, just like you do for every animal and person you encounter.

Off I go to slumber. I hope all of you reading have a restful, happy dream filled night.

2 comments:

  1. So sorry to hear of Lola. I'll look forward to meeting her at the Rainbow Bridge.

    Sweet dreams. Nobody loves sleep more than me! My wife and I have always valued it highly and are sure that our health and happiness are directly connected. There is no shame in sleeping 12 hours in our house and then deciding that a nap sounds good a few hours later.

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  2. Sleep is so great. I got up super early the last two mornings and when I do so I tell myself "oh, what a great time of day, I should do this more often!" ....and then don't for a few months. I didn't mean to be up early today, but our extremely noisy fluffy bantam rooster decided to crow for 15 minutes straight, seemingly without drawing breath...sigh...life on the farm!
    Glad you are enjoying cozy beds again! And rest in peace to Lola, I'm sure she was beloved and had a great life.

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