Along for the ride:

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Pretty good, so far

Sunday morning driving to the stables, blue sky and country music on a practically naked ribbon of freeway. Smugly disdainful of those who choose to stay under their covers and miss this, arriving to a mounting block shining with a frosty sparkle, and horses turning flanks to sunlight, I'm undeniably alive.
A good hour in the saddle; striving, practicing, learning, achieving. No one's cold anymore. We four women appreciate the moment; lit from above, below and within. Ladies glow, horses sweat and steam rises from us all. A collective of satisfaction.
Back home to a well earned lunch, muscles tingling, still smiling introspectively and reliving moments of horse-generated pleasure that are hard won currency in my personal-spirit savings bank.
A nap, without guilt, an obligation to be fresh this evening for a party. I already tried on my outfit, to find a shoe solution. My toes no longer like all of my shoes and I have not yet done a serious triage to remove the ones I will never wear again. I find a green open toe slip on with a minimal heel, just enough that I won't drag my trouser legs around on the floor. I find a peachy nail polish that could be mistaken for seasonal gold and doesn't show my paint-outside-the-lines technique as badly as a darker red would. I like my top, a simple T-shirt style, black and sequined. I get it over my head and unhook the scales that have become entangled with one another, without tearing loose a strand.
Our host and hostess are charming people, although they'll be busy mingling with the guests, who will sparkle and shine throughout the beautifully decorated spaces of the house. Lovely Daughter and her husband have RSVP'd "Yes" to the party this year as well. I'm thrilled, I'll have a chance to chat with them and can escape early, leaving them to bring Husband home, if I start to turn back into a pumpkin before the end.

19 comments:

  1. It all ads up to a pretty attractive life. I hope it is as satisfying as it is literary. I've never had a horse-induced pleasure, but I'm open to one.

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  2. Finding the perfect pair shoes is crucial.....

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  3. Sounds lovely and I hope it was...

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  4. Good day for riders, not so much for the Raiders

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  5. Life is good then ! The universe is unfolding as it should...

    Happiest of holidays to you ER, it's been a fine blogging year, and may 2012 bring more moments of pleasure and discovery.

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  6. Amazing how a day can so happily turn from horse sweat to elegant sequins like that--and both provide such pleasure.

    We horsewomen are an odd lot, that way. Riding is so physical, and usually pretty dirty too, yet somehow we clean up well and more often than not present a classy, confident face to the "unstable" world. *S*

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  7. a day to treasure from sunlit beginning to glittering end !
    and i'm so impressed by the nail polish ... i can't remember the last time i wore any .

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  8. Sounds magical... and enviable wonderful. Saddle one up for me.

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  9. How wonderful, life is good!!

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  10. Stephen, you'll never know until you try it.

    Maria, I wish arthritic toes were not part of my decision making process. I love(d) shoes.

    e, this was a good one from start to finish.

    Silliyak, you can't win 'em all?

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  11. Owen, the universe is definitely more optimistic than twelve months ago, at least in my mind.

    Jean, it takes one to know one. Very true.

    S&S, toes are two unkempt without it. I'd have chosen closed toed shoes if I had any that were right for the job. Last year I wore riding boots as fashion swung in my favor.

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  12. You have to love those precious days. I hope this is an omen for the coming year.

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  13. What could be better than a morning ride followed by a guilt free nap and then on to a party. Sounds like you had a very nice day and night.

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  14. What a lovely, perfect day! The smell of horses in the early morning chill and their musical nickering and velvety noses is my idea of heaven, too.

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  15. Wally, that's a great thought. Thanks.

    Grey Horse, used to be that horses were my profession and people my hobby. Nowadays it's reversed but a good balance all the same.

    Hearts, there is such an acceptance without judgement from a horse. That is truly my "Happy Place"

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  16. This post made me soooo sad, as I'm about to sell my beloved Titch. I do hope I'm doing the right thing...

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  17. Frances, I've been following your thoughts on letting go of Titch. You've got to go with your gut instincts on this. Of course it's sad. I've had conversations recently with several women who had been injured and realized that they felt they needed to change their priorities for now. One is a surgeon who broke her arm and couldn't work for ages. Personally, I liked being hospitalized for my appendix this year. I think it's the only time anyone's ever looked after me, for a change, and they gave me good drugs. I wouldn't mind going back:)

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  18. You've covered the range of womanly activities with a vengance--from riding clothes to party clothes. Congratulations on having managed to work all that into one day.

    Just don't plan the return to the hospital for R&R until after Feb 2012...

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