Like many 10 year old girls, I really wanted a horse. And a place for the horse to live where I could take care of it easily and ride it whenever I wanted. I read so many novels about horses, girls who rode horses, and non-fiction books on the care of horses. We had a family friend who had a horse, and I would ride in her old truck up the mountain a couple times a month to help her clean out his stall and help with his care. He was too old for me to ride, but it was nice to be able to help.
I never asked my parents for a horse. None of us knew the first thing about the world of horse ownership aside from my avid reading, which included nothing about the very basic steps to entry about picking a stable, appropriate price, where you even buy a horse, how you know if it's healthy. Beyond that, owning a horse was not practical and would be a frivolous, and on-going, expense. Not an option on our limited budget and within our lifestyle. So I imagined I was riding one when we went on hikes or rode my bike, talking to my imaginary companion, encouraging her to keep going on the tough bits and pretending to care for her along the way.
As an adult, there are likely several things that only exist in my imagination, which is dusty and not frequently visited. There are belongings or experiences that fall in the “out of my league” category due to expense or expertise. I’m considering taking a broom to the space, clearing out the cobwebs and giving myself permission to daydream about the impractical.
— slowjamr
I never asked my parents for a horse. None of us knew the first thing about the world of horse ownership aside from my avid reading, which included nothing about the very basic steps to entry about picking a stable, appropriate price, where you even buy a horse, how you know if it's healthy. Beyond that, owning a horse was not practical and would be a frivolous, and on-going, expense. Not an option on our limited budget and within our lifestyle. So I imagined I was riding one when we went on hikes or rode my bike, talking to my imaginary companion, encouraging her to keep going on the tough bits and pretending to care for her along the way.
As an adult, there are likely several things that only exist in my imagination, which is dusty and not frequently visited. There are belongings or experiences that fall in the “out of my league” category due to expense or expertise. I’m considering taking a broom to the space, clearing out the cobwebs and giving myself permission to daydream about the impractical.
— slowjamr
Check out fellow Dipper joystjohn's poem entitled "Fury," about her horse (when she was young). I remember actually starting to save quarters and dimes to BUY a horse when I was ten. Of course there was no place to keep a horse in our small New Jersey backyard. I collected horse figurines instead. Great idea to clear out those cobwebs! (Macoff, fellow Dipper)
ReplyDeleteYes, on sweeping up and dreaming new dreams. My son at about five years old asked for a horse. "We don't have anywhere to keep a horse," I said. "I'll keep it in my room," he announced proudly. Horses are amazing creatures. As you say, stars in our dreams.
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