Gene had purchased L.S. (Little Smokey) with Smokey - her Mom ( dam). L.S. was still in the womb. An offspring of Quinarius (sire)- a show horse. Smokey and L.S. got to live together on our farm their entire lives, with Smokey passing at 33, and L.S. passing overnight (at 20). We were taken aback by L.S. sudden illness and failure to recover. Something went off in her digestive system and despite several attempts to rid her of colic - and thousands of dollars in Vet bills, she succumbed. The Vets called her stoic. Saying most other horses would have passed much earlier. She ate little food for weeks. She kept trying to turn the corner - I thought she might come out of it. ...no treatment helped...maybe surgery - but there's was no way to tell and few people can afford that expense with a pleasure horse. ...trained L.S. through natural horsemanship ...rode her very little. She, as all our horses lead a life as similar to a wild horse as you will see - with a vast pasture. The only difference is they are given roomy shelter - and fed and watered like royal horses. So it is truly "the best of both worlds" of any living being.Farewell, L.S. "Bessy" - we will miss you...we see you with your Mom running the fields - in our hearts...
This is L.S. - above her Mom with the star marking on the right - the wild horses in the background.
The rest of the herd is feeling her death - and you can feel they are keeping an eye out - for her.
Living on the jagged edge - a catch 22 - a double edged sword.
Freedom is undervalued, a priceless commodity. Freedom comes with a price - the jagged edge. Sometimes - it costs everything - a life.
Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Dianne Fossey...the list goes on. People that paid their life in exchange for freedom. The freedom of African Americans, Indians of every Caste, The Mountain Gorilla.
Every person fights each day to preserve it.
The Jagged Edge is the story of how that fight often results in tragedy.
in memory of Auntie and the work she did and the gifts of love she gave. She introduced us to theater.
We come together for a family gathering in Memorium of our Auntie - a figure that influenced each one of us in a special way - we are grateful for our time together - memories take us back to the times we shared, individually and together. We will miss you Auntie...
Our maternal and paternal side of our ancestry lend such leadership to our family. We reflect on those teachings - knowingly and unconsciously. So much to emulate and so much to learn. Moving forward in time, we will honor their memory and send prayers of goodness in the afterlife, knowing they may hear and feel how much we miss them.
“A Noiseless Patient Spider,” Whitman:
A noiseless patient spider,
I mark'd where on a little promontory it stood isolated,
Mark'd how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,
It launched forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
Surrounded, detached, in measureles oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to con-
nect them,
Till the bridge you will need be form'd, till the ductile anchor hold,
Till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul. (CRE 450)
I think of my Aunt and she reminds me how to grow old with grace according to many of the "self help" books.
1/ Cardio - working out helps to feed the brain more blood/oxygen. A 30 minute workout is all you need to get the heart pumping. I like tennis as a cardio sport - also keeps the brain active with court strategy. My Aunt used power walking in her 50s and early 60s. Once she retired, she did cardio no more. We never asked her why.
2/Comradarie/Social/Friendships - "people who need people are the luckiest people in the world" - as it turns out - socializing is great for aging. More fun, laughter, being out and about. These are some of the ways to add quality to your life.
3/Pets - dogs, cats, even goats - any pet adds love - and that is always a good thing. They may limit travel so one needs to weigh the pros and cons.
4/Travel - exploration keeps you young for all these reasons - keeps your mind active seeing and learning about new places, people and culture. May involve the companionship of other people if you travel in groups or pairs. Involves alot of walking - if you are going to places that involve more than a spa or beach retreat.
5/Massage - this is my own take on aging well - touch, muscle stimulation and detoxification. Always makes me feel rejuvenated!
6/ Mediterranean diet - olive oil is one of the keys - also, fish and mostly plant based diet. Vitamins, omega 3s, anti inflammatory - all rolled into one.
7/ Keep Learning
anything that stimulates the brain is a powerful tool to aging well - learn a language, get a Masters degree, learn a new trade.
For more on this and other useful ways to age healthier - read The Blue Zones - a study of centenarian cultures.
https://www.bluezones.com/blog/
