It’s been too long. This is where Kathleen and I ate our first several dozen meals after the move last September. Breakfasts. Lunches. Dinners (or as they say here in middle Tennessee: Suppers). We would sit sometimes for an hour without a word. Just watching the herd. Listening to the symphony of the frogs at night. The birds. The crickets. Smelling the roses. Without alternative. Locked up in the house over a seemingly endless winter, buried in work and warmth, the roses were fewer and further between. And easy to ignore. I often looked at it as a good thing because I was getting so much work done. Not bothered by those smelly old roses. But my spirit suffered. I only realized how much this morning. Out here at breakfast.
There was simply no choice.
Blood pressure dropped, breathing eased. And I glazed over for almost an hour. That one hour was worth all the 15 degree days, the rains, the snows, even the hand-lugging jugs of water to the barn after Mariah fell through the ice and shut down the pond and the “freeze-proof” spigot at the barn froze. Worth every bit of it. And when my Sweetie comes back next week life will once again be perfect. Thank you Lord.
I have only just found you, Joe & Kathleen & herd, today. What an emotional afternoon it has been! I’ve gotten little signs at every turn that I am exactly where I am supposed to be … I just had to tighten MY gas cap today to make the engine light go out, little things like that, like finding petals dropped to mark the correct path to follow. I look forward to reading your book, well, to reading everything you have ever written, quickly and hungrily absorbing all that I have missed. An email I received today talked about people who come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime… I’m not sure yet which you are, but I’m eager to discover the answer! (If you have not seen this email, email me and I will send it to you — and you will know why I have goosebumps writing this.) What an interesting day this has been! All peace and love to you. –Becky
Joe, it was great to get to know you at the American Hoof Association convention. You are every bit the spirit expressed by your book. Angie and I immediately felt a kinship with you and immediately considered you – and Benji – our friend. We both appreciate your mission (if that is an appropriate description). You and Kathleen have been provided quite a unique platform. It will be of interest to see where the open door takes all of you and what will be accomplished. We hope and pray God’s richest blessings on your lives and that the Tennessee move will be completed soon. By completed, I mean Kathleen being there with you so the Skype is no longer necessary.
May we all remain in the moment and enjoy the journey.
It’s hard to believe that Malachi was with us a year ago. It was such a wonderful time. Would you be willing to write a bit about him on what would have been his birthday? Thanks.
Perhaps Karen. It’ll have to be the right day, the right time. He is still so with me. I think and talk about him all the time. He is becoming a central part of the next book.
We had a perfect week-end in Maryland – time to plant, clean winter out of the garden, get kissed by the sun.
The OTTB is now ready for training. He had 2 bowed suspeonsory tendons – in part from having racing shoes. Heel was cut was too low, toes way too long. Lots of rest, learning to be a horse and my challenge will be to convince him he can go clockwise. So looking forward to this.
The frogs, the “noise” – country living is often loud – it all makes sense!
Joe & Kathleen
So great to hear how much you are enjoying your new home
and the herd.
Cant imagine not living in the country – I’m just not a
city (or town) person, I guess.
Miss my Appy still – but sure do enjoy getting out and
walking in the field with my dog, and watching the deer
and other animals who live here.
Feel so bad for Veronica & what shes having to get thru.
As Joe says, keep the faith as best you can.
Maggie
In 1976, I was an office boy for Mulberry Square Productions, thanks to my friend, the late Mr. Hearne who drew Benji’s marketing pictures, as you well remember, among other chores.
In conducting current searches, for fine reasons, toward you and your sons- whom I remember- for the first time I came across every page of your heartfelt and inspiring whereabouts, these last many years, and hope this suffices as my ‘hello’, as I sign up for the above newsletter.
For starters, my Janett’s sister loves and raises quarter horses/cutting horses near Princeton, Texas and am taking copious notes, thanks to your lifework, so as to forward all of it, to her! Snow is on the ground in Dallas this March 21st… sounds serene where you are, His Name, my best, Darrell Deck
Hey Darrell. Super to hear from you. Send me an email and let’s check in from time to time.
Dear Veronica, I feel sad for you too. I am trying to do many things while I stay in California for the next 1.5 years. I was in Jazzercise for my first week, and one of the regulars announced she had finally gotten a job after 2 years of looking. I mentioned that I’ve been looking for a year and still nothing. One of the leader ladies casually said: “sometimes its an opportunity to try something new. 3 years ago, I was let go from my company and was out of shape and over weight. I started doing Jazzercise to fit into my work clothes for interviews, but ended up trading them for workout clothes and have been an instructor for the last 2 years and never would have dreamed of it had it not been for my company letting me go.”
I know a lot of people hate Dr. Laura, and while I don’t always agree with her, I DO firmly believe that the woman is the heart and soul and glue of the home, with men usually gladly following. Do you guys go on trail rides? I know I can’t wait for this summer and Joe and I getting to do some riding, away from phones, computers and just out with nature. Sending you hugs :) Kathleen
Joe
This was very personal for me to read, because your love for your world and your wife causes me to feel sad for us.
When I moved here with my husband 5 years ago giving up our beautiful home and any contacts in the city we had. I did it for us. We both wanted a place in the country with horses and dogs. It wasn’t about finding a beautiful home it was about finding a place to have peace in our retirement.
My heart aches that I feel like I am doing this all alone. Winter was long, and lonely without his support.
Spring is finally showing it’s head here and all I can hope for is maybe one day he will wake up and see just how much we love him and save this from ending for us a couple.
I want to look forward to finishing that flower garden again, that I have been working on for 4 years.
I can’t see sharing these dreams with anyone else, but I also can’t see losing it all because his world doesn’t seem to include us. ” That is such a lonely place ”
I could see him and I at that table of yours, but not as things are.
You are a blessed man to have found your soul mate. I thought I had found mine.
I thank God everyday for the joy my horses and dogs bring. And get my hugs and kisses from them.
I smiled yesterday big time, as I sat with our Katie Bug as she delivered 5 beautiful puppies.
I am waiting now for my Mare to foal.
And in it all, I thank God for not only the good times , but for the ones I don’t quite understand because I know he doesn’t
give us more than we can handle.
So sorry for your situation Veronica. As you said God knows where He’s going and doesn’t feel obligated to tell us where that is. Other than deaths of those close to me some of the most dismal times in my life ultimately lead to something terrific. This whole thing with the horses came out of one of those times. So stay the course and keep the faith. However difficult. – Joe
You tell such wonderful stories Joe putting the reader right there with you, seeing what you see, feeling what you feel making your experience our experience. We want you around for a long time to come – hope that high cholesterol breakfast is just a once in a while event :)
Saturday and Sunday only. Weekdays it’s a healthy smoothie and 1 cup of cappuccino :)
Sounds nice, the serenity of the farm. Makes me wish we were out somewhere to have horses and that log cabin we have been wanting for years. I am distressed to learn the fate of all the New York Through Breds who were euthanized and some adopted. Two years jail time and fines not enough for torturing and neglecting these beautiful horses. God help us, where has our world gone?