Like all the other waifs and strays, HennyPenny limped into our life a mere shadow of her former self. We should have a sign on our house saying ‘Soft Touch Suckers Live Here’. I answered a knock at the door to a woman whom I vaguely knew through another friend, but it took a momentContinue reading “HennyPenny and Martina”
Author Archives: horsehusbandetc
Trust
Do you ever wonder if penguins stand around laughing while one of them pretends to walk like a person? The thought hadn’t crossed my mind either until I tried (in vain) to distract myself this week from real life, and real feelings. Meditation has been too scary because I don’t want to be alone inContinue reading “Trust”
Fuck the Rainbow Bridge
“The horses at Rainbow Bridge play together in the sunshine until each of their owners comes to claim them, as the owners themselves pass away. The souls of horses and their owners finally reunite and cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.” To take responsibility for ending your own life is tough,Continue reading “Fuck the Rainbow Bridge”
If I be the first of Us
If I be the first of us to die, Let grief not blacken long your sky. Be bold yet modest in your grieving. There is a change but not a leaving. And just as death is part of life, The dead live on for ever in the living. And all the gathered riches of ourContinue reading “If I be the first of Us”
worry
Back in April, Bruce and his horse-neighbour Winston broke their dividing fence, and hoolied around the field like a couple of youngsters. Things sobered up when Bruce got kicked on his hock, and I found him standing by the gate looking very sorry for himself. The joint swelled and subsided, puffy became the new normal,Continue reading “worry”
Bruce’s Story: a perfect storm
New Years Day 2012 was sullen and grey, and so was I. Viewing my ashen face in the mirror, I grimaced at the chemotherapy residue and tried to focus my bloodshot eyes on something positive. “Stop brooding! Get yourself together and do something.” I said sharply to my pale reflection, pulling on a pair ofContinue reading “Bruce’s Story: a perfect storm”
Duet
I love a free offer. But when it’s another life-limiting disease I should have read the label before I put it in my shopping basket. Greed will be my downfall. The new recruit goes under the name Polyarteritis Nordosa. Polyarteritis Nordosa is a rare inflammation of the arteries, caused by a malfunctioning immune system. MyContinue reading “Duet”
Bruce’s Story: expressing his opinion
It seems obvious now how similar Bruce and I were. Anxiety overruled logic, we both cloaked ourselves in an armour of false bravado and we were both in permanent flight from our demons. Bruce might have four legs, but I was running as fast from cancer as he was from his nemesis. Kirsty’s ‘quiet place’Continue reading “Bruce’s Story: expressing his opinion”
bestie
This month would’ve been my friend Jimmy’s birthday. Jimmy spent his life helping people. He was a hub of energy and generosity and his friends spun around him like satellites, reflecting and repaying his support by thriving under his guidance, while he basked in their glow. By choice, he died alone and his funeral wasContinue reading “bestie”
Bruce’s Story: Reality
Bruce was here, and he was truly the most handsome horse I’ve ever seen. I was going to make everything better, he would become a superstar, and as the storybooks say ‘we would all live happily ever after’. My initial plan for Bruce (besides making amends for all the horrible things that had happened toContinue reading “Bruce’s Story: Reality”
