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April
10, 2002
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A PLEA FOR HELP <-
"My treasures don't clink together or glitter ... they
gleam in the sun, and neigh in the night"
Thank you to Patsy
Mirsky for allowing me to use the quote above - I saw it while
reading one of her e-mails recently and thought I would share
it with you.
My birthday was
last Saturday, and any more I tend to dread birthdays ... at school
my students can hardly wait to celebrate my day with me, and my
fellow teachers never fail to remind me that I am a year older
(they know I am very sensitive about revealing my age!). My principal
celebrates his birthday a day before mine, and he says growing
another year older beats the alternative! I had to agree.
I walked outside
on Saturday and spent some time in the quiet stillness of the
day. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing. The horses
stood, breathing heavily as though fat and tired and wishing for
something more to do. I looked around me and it was almost as
if God nudged me with memories of all my blessings. I looked at
Sheba, my 16 year old Appaloosa that I have had since she was
born, and reminisced about the special gift I received on September
4, 1986 when she entered the world. She looked just like a zebra,
and neighbors came from miles around to see her standing next
to her white mama. In 16 years she has lost her stripes and spots,
but she is such a part of me, and who I am, and will always be
with me.
Then I looked over
at Star Cheetah, my soon-to-be 27 year old Standardbred. I got
Star when he was 14 years old - and it was like yesterday that
I can see him in my mind, stepping off the vanning company's ramp
into my driveway from an adoption program in New York. My 16'1
hand sorrel has been a friend and trustworthy mount to my children
and so many other children with disabilities who have visited
and taken lessons. Now missing half his teeth, it takes two hours
for him to eat his supper every night, but I continue to bury
my face in his mane as he eats and tell him how much he has meant
to me and my family and what a gift he has been. I am sure he
can feel my love.
Then there is Alternative,
my dark bay Standardbred gelding that most of you have seen at
demonstrations around the midwest horse expos. Out of all my horses,
he seems to be my soul mate - almost as if I can read his mind
and he can read mine. When we ride together we share spirits as
we trot and canter across fields and trails. He shares my compassion
for children and those with special needs. He is my hero of the
horse world! I can still see him at the Amish farm where I purchased
him in 1989 - walking towards me from a barren pasture behind
the barn and whinnying to me like a cry for help, his thin frame
wobbling. I paid almost $600 for him that day and brought him
home and have never regretted it. Yet one more gift!
Last Saturday I
turned around and saw them all - each one a gift - Haiku, Friendly
Explosion, Tar Port Ramey, Strawberry, Little John, Chief, and
oh yes! Sweet little Cricket and mother Asha - who would know
that in February 2001 a retired polo pony would find her way to
ASAP and present ASAP with such a gift on May 8 as little Cricket!!!
She is so quiet and kind, just like her mother. She has a calming
affect on everyone she comes into contact with - we just HAVE
to adopt her ourselves!
Who can be so deserving
of all these memories and blessings? My wonderful supportive family
and my four awesome children? My health? My career? My mother
and the ability we have had to take a vacation together? I can
scarcely take it all in - almost as if these thoughts were blinding
me with brightness last Saturday! I think it was God's way of
showing me the tremendous ways in which he gives each day that
can be appreciated and treasured for eternity. I can't fathom
it all!
So my birthday wasn't
such a bad day after all ... even though we couldn't find a babysitter
so the highlight on the eve of my special day was spent playing
Pictionary with my sister and her family and my mother! My sister
gave me a watch that was also a bracelet - my three year old Rachel
took off with it after grabbing it off the table and I have not
seen it since. I asked her to find it "for mama" and
she says "uh...I can't!". My mother gave me pots and
pans - yay! You should have seen what I was cooking with before!
My oldest two children gave me a really cool shirt with a horse
head on it from Gadzooks at the mall, and my two younger kids
gave mom bath and body works shower gel and lotion to pamper myself
with!!! Now to find the time to take a bath ... (yes, I shower!!!).
Please remember
we are searching diligently for homes for Dewey's Dream and Indy,
and a new horse, Lover Boy Bluegrass who was just brought in today.
I am positive that there are guardian angels out there who will
come along to help these horses in need.
A special thanks
to Patsy Mirsky for helping out with hauling this week and for
fostering Geri's Halo since January. We appreciate you! And to
Julia Drapela for being faithful to Indy during his time with
her, and Bonnie at the office for handling so many things at one
time and for remaining gracious when she had every right not to,
and to Dr. Diana Wilson who continues to donate her time and medications
for horses when we need it! And of course, thanks to Bryan and
Kim who continue to update and upgrade our web site at no cost
to ASAP!!! And to Gail Brunner who is working for donations to
our program and for her wonderful public relations on our behalf,
and to Deb and Bernie Paul who went on an emergency run for a
Standardbred gelding in need this morning. You all are wonderful!
And to Carmen for all of her hard work in getting adoption applications
screened. She is truly a dedicated, selfless person as well. Oh,
I cannot forget Nita Walter, who is helping find homes and arrange
shipping for horses in Michigan - all of you deserve a big round
of applause and a big hug!
Until next week,
may your blessings shine as brightly as mine did last Saturday!
Susan
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