Meet Diego.
Hello, Diego
Diego is a Paso Fino. The Peruvians bred Paso Finos for 400 years to develop their size and butter-smooth gait.
Even so, I was filled with trepidation when Charlie, my earliest best friend, (we go back more than 50 years, but don’t tell anyone!) invited me to her ranch to ride horses.
“I’m an ‘ole cowhand, from the Rio Grande….”
It would be like old times, riding my friend’s horse, giggling together, pretending to be cowgirls in the Old West.
At least I was pretending!
Normally I’m always up for adventure. But in this case, my hesitation resulted from my fear of:
#1) Not being able to hoist myself up to the horse’s back, and
#2) jostling my insides with each Clip–clop, Clip-clop, Clip-clop….
That’s when Charlie calmed my fears. She told me that Diego’s nickname is: Soft, Fluffy, Couch.
Soft, Fluffly Couch with yoga mat for saddle!
Now, really, how could I refuse!
We set the date, I got excited, and could barely wait. Until I received an email the night before I was to meet Mr. Couch.
Charlie wrote that it would be a good idea for me to bring my bike helmet. What! I wear my bike helmet when I’m on a different kind of saddle. And it’s to protect my head in case of a fall.
What does she know that I don’t?
Oh, well, I’ve been bucked off of a horse before and lived to ride again,and I really don’t mind looking silly, so, what the heck! Off I go….
What the heck!
I’m here to tell you that even the endearing nickname “Soft, Fluffy, Couch” gives the wrong impression! His nickname could easily be, “Wake Up Diego! You Still There?” Needless to say, we had a gloriously smooth ride that day.
Getting Ready “Giddy” Up!
And a gloriously cool cool-down.
Ears Up: Just Mom and Me Ears Down: That Dang Blue-Leopard Hatted Cowgirl-Wanna Be is Here!
And a glorious reminder of how sweet life is when you’re doing what you want.
Isn’t it often the case that we hesitate to do things we want to do for what we think are all the right reasons?
But when we do them anyway, all the real right reasons show up!
Like spending time with Charlie, my gentle-souled lifelong friend. I love her.
You would, too, if you knew her. I’ll introduce you–through one of her stories. She horse-whispers them to her magnificent animals so they will be strong and brave.
Meet Sagittarius…
A tail of hot, bright, white stars
And a mane like fresh woven silk
dazzled by sun like
diamonds in fresh fallen snow.
His breath hot and fiery
Like the very sun itself.
Smoke rises from his nostrils
as he snorts the sound of victory.
Then with a shake and a toss of his head
He is gone, gone with the speed of light
Swift as lightning hurled from the starry sky
Like a meteor streaking across that heavenly expanse.
Charlie in 1964 with her beloved Flash, or is it Sagittarius….
Thank you for dropping in to The Sweet Life: La Dolce Vita. I invite you to visit weekly as a subscriber. Simply click in the box in the upper right hand corner and we will share life’s sweetness together. Bless you readers! You make my writing life sweet, very sweet….
This is my favorite so far, maybe its because horses are special to me too.
I don’t know how you do it but one minute I’m laughing and the next tears
are rolling down my face! Keep up the good work, love you
There’s nothing better you could say! Thank you.
I remember the time I rode with you. When we galloped the only thing I could do was hold on and laugh.