I Miss My Girls

December has always been a hard month for me to get out to see my girls. With the hustle of the holidays and dreary damp weather, I'm lucky get to the barn once or twice during the last few week's of the month.

Typically, things go back to normal after the new year. As long as the footing is good and it's not pouring, you'll find me back at the barn at least twice a week.

Not this year.

In early January, I headed out to the barn for an evening visit with Maxine and Madge. I delivered grain, gave them hugs, and simply adored them while they quietly munched on their dinner.

I hopped in the car with a warm heart and called Travis on the way home, as I always do. It was a lovely evening... until I coughed.

Then I coughed again... and again... and again.

Three barnless weeks later, I'm finally gettin better. A trip to the doctor confirmed that I'm likely suffering from an acute allergy attack brought on by a mix of alfalfa, sawdust, and the light covering of mold brought on by the damp Oregon winter.

Now, I've always had an allergy to the dust I encounter at the barn. I'm used to the three days of sniffling and sneezing after a show, but this has been unreal. My voice has been gone for a week, and my sides ache from coughing.

Of course, there is a silver lining to my ailment--I haven't longed to see my girls this badly in a long time. It's funny how we sometimes get into routines--arrive, tack up, ride, untack, leave--and forget the euphoria we once felt while doing the very same activities. That's exactly what I've been doing the past few months.

This weekend my routine is going to be different--arrive, hug, stroll, smile, tack up, gush, ride/lunge, love, untack, brush, pause, share cookies, put up, hug, repeat.

I love my girls.

Photo: Madge and Maxine standing happily in the trailer. This year, Madge will move back to the second stall, cause she'll soon be heavier than Maxine!