Finding Balance

November 22, 2011

In the Native American tradition, Raven symbolizes energy flow that brings about change and creates new realities.  During today's adventure, I came upon this work of art in which Raven perches in balance, reminding us of what is most important.  Note the key as a symbol of open doors and the welcoming of positive change into our lives.  (author unknown).  Today was a positive change, a day with my family, a day off from work,  traveling and exploring new places.   Yellow Springs has been a destination for some time.   and today was the day.  

I counted the days until everyone arrived for the start of this Thanksgiving reunion.  My family had "nested" Tuesday night, arriving from a variety of destinations.   Miss J and Moe, Kate and Sean, Jen and Rich.   Miss J prepared a fabulous dinner Tuesday night and Moe generously set up my web cam.  (Many thanks to both of you)  After much discourse and varied perspectives on how we should spend the day, we piled into our SUV (at the time planned!)  and embarked on the day-trip  to Yellow Springs.  Seventy one miles, an hour and 27 minute drive, and we pulled in to Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve on Route 343 with 268 acres on the Little Miami River, post glacial canyons, dolomite outcroppings, scenic waterfalls and rapids.  Just beautiful. We timed out for lots of pictures along the way.   We found some of the best hiking trails I have experienced in Ohio.    After a delayed flight and car rental from Cleveland, Rich joined us for the duration, but missed this beautiful site.      Next stop  Young's Jersey Dairy where the attraction is the ice cream.   We lucked out as  there were no lines and no traffic through Yellow Springs on the day before Thanksgiving.   The strawberry ice cream was as good as it gets and a single scoop is a big serving!    Our energy renewed, the next stop was the Historic Clifton Mill, a water powered grist mill, built in 1802.   We skipped the home style cooking and the tour of the mill to see how stones are used to grind grain into flour and continued on into  Yellow Springs.   There were very few shoppers so we explored most of the shops with just a few breaks at Peaches for refreshment and hang time.  Finally, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Winds.   This was the  prelude to Thanksgiving day.  Wonderful family time.  Precious memories.   I have been very blessed this year to have all  3 daughters, son in laws, newcomer Rich,  and of course the side-kicks Tucker and Skyler home for the holiday.

As usual, everyone had varied ideas about what we should do on this day-trip,  from a trip to the zoo, to a movie or a visit to Amish country.   It is not often we are able to all gather for a day excursion and I so wanted this to be a success.   Now as I write this blog, I remember a quotable quote that I noticed in the Yellow Springs Coffee News.  
                 "Don't aim at success--the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it.  for success, like happiness, cannot be pursued, it must ensue--as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a course greater than oneself."   Victor Frankl

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain"

Saturday, November 5, 2011
Today was a long awaited day, the 2011 Blessing of the Hounds, marking the opening of foxhunting season in central Ohio.   After a year, I was finally ready to ride to hounds, with a group or riders, horses and hounds, who together, enjoy the sport of foxchasing.  It is about the ride and the chase.   It is a year round sport.  The hounds go out to hunt from late August through March and they are exercised and trained year round by staff.    To hunt, one must come as a guest or be a member of a registered hunt.     I have enjoyed four seasons of hunting.

However, on June 6, 2010, while riding along a soybean field, chasing the wind behind Liza, a draft cross, a pheasant flew up in front of my athletic and agile quarter horse.   His abrupt turn away from the monstrous bird  resulted in a spinal twist that initially seemed benign, however it left me progressively compromised with residual muscle, disk and nerve damage in my back. 

The journey to heal the injury was a challenging one, forcing me to change my modus operandi.  I had to slow down, get more help operating my boarding barn, pay attention to the mechanics of every activity. Activities that were routine and part of my daily chores  now caused pain and drained my energy.   Grocery shopping, unloading the car, moving laundry baskets, cleaning horse stalls, moving grain sacks, filling 5 gallon water buckets, exercising and caring for a 90# dog, even sitting for extended periods of time at work were all difficult tasks. Needless to say, I could no longer ride a horse.    Sending my horse to my daughter's equestrian program was the lowest point.  His empty stall a constant reminder of the loss.  In the quiet times created by the injury found time and opportunity to develop new ventures.    After a a year of physical therapy (de ja vu 1984)  the time arrived to begin anew with a return to having a horse of my own in the barn.  Connor would remain with my daughter  for now, and he  become a valued school horse for young riders.    Sunny, appropriately named,  arrived at my farm after being rescued from a farm in northern Ohio.  He is a ray of sunshine, has a gentle eye, good temperament, and a lovely nicker when he senses your presence.   He is  a balm for my soul.   Sunny was seriously injured shortly after he came to my farm  by the alpha male of the herd, requiring a month of stall rest,  daily wound irrigation and  medication, and a very slow progression in activity as he recovered.     Blessings come in disguise, as once again, horse and  rider had time to bond and build  strength and stamina.  My goal of riding by the formal opening of foxhunting season never wavered.

Riding in the 2011 opening hunt at Rocky Fork Headley Hunt was a special victory for me. It was perfect and  picturesque, with golden beech trees, sunshine, and mild temperatures.   Fifty five riders participated with a traditional luncheon following the ride.   It was a day to remember, to cherish and share with new and old friends.  I am very grateful.  
In retrospect, the journey from injury to riding again required alot of work, determination and it was chocked full of surprises.    One of my favorite quotes applies to the past year:    

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain".