Northern Dancer, The Little Horse That Could...And Did...

Horse, thou art truly a creature without equal, for thou fliest without wings.   ~The Koran

Northern Dancer was indeed a horse without equal who flew without wings.  The first Canadian bred horse to win The Kentucky Derby.  At the time Canada went wild for this colt.  Then the world.

Born late Spring in May, 1961, he was a very small Thoroughbred.  Not much larger than a pony.  But oh, did he have heart!  Besides connections who believed in him.  Including an eight year old child in Kentucky who also had heart and a deep passion for horses.

I became aware of Northern Dancer prior to the 1964 Kentucky Derby.  There was all kinds of talk about this very SMALL horse running in the Derby that year.  No way could he win they all were saying.  Too little.  Way too little.  He will be left in the dust.  Sportswriter Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Northern Dancer is so plucky and all heart.  His legs are barely long enough to keep his tail off the ground."

Too SMALL?!!  I believed in Northern Dancer and he WOULD beat the other BIG horses!  He would win the Derby!

And he did.  The Preakness too.  In the Belmont he nearly came in second...a close third...in a mile and a half race.  

And then...AND THEN...Northern Dancer was retired from racing to begin his life as a stallion in 1965.  

Northern Dancer forever changed the Thoroughbred breed.  He became one of the most successful sires of all time with his progeny being highly sought worldwide. Even multi-generations later of his grandchildren, great grandchildren and beyond are sought after.

According to the Jockey Club Northern Dancer sired 411 winners and 147 stakes winners from 645 foals shattering all records.  Yet it hasn't stopped there.  Many of his sons, grandsons, great grandsons, became very successful sought after sires in their own right.

Because of Northern Dancer's small size Windfields Farm had to install a hydraulic lift so he could reach the mares.  Often if the lift operator was not fast enough to hit the button as Northern Dancer thought he should be he would get impatient with the operator by stamping his foreleg.

When his very last offspring sold at Keeneland in 1989 in Lexington, before bidding began the announcer said, "This...is the last one from The Great One," to a long standing ovation for Northern Dancer.  That yearling then sold for a record THIRTEEN MILLION U.S. DOLLARS.

Northern Dancer's impact has continued well into this century though.

Justify, the 2018 American Triple Crown winner has multiple crosses to Northern Dancer through Storm Cat, Nijinsky, and Vice Regent.  American Pharoah winner of the 2015 American Triple Crown is also strongly connected to Northern Dancer, as is California Chrome, winner of the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.  Also, more Northern Dancer descended horses have won the Breeder's Cup than from any other horse.  His daughters, granddaughters, and further, have been extremely successful and sought after as well.  And, some of the most successful matings to Northern Dancer were Secretariat daughters.

In 1990 at the age of 29, Northern Dancer had to be euthanized due to severe colic.

So you can probably understand why Northern Dancer became my hero.  He was indeed the little horse that could and oh did he ever! 

The two black and white photos are to convey how small Northern Dancer was, with the one above after he won The Kentucky Derby. 

My Little Peon...

This Saturday, 1 May 2021, The 147th Kentucky Derby takes place...the oldest sporting event in the United States...the first jewel of the three Triple Crown Races, with The Preakness in Maryland and The Belmont in New York.  In honour of The Kentucky Derby I am posting blogs about three very small racehorses who

ran on heart and showed the world how fast and high they could soar anyway...

First, Little Peon.  

Close friends have often very affectionately referred to me by the same name.  So yes, there is a story here.

Thirty-six years ago I was working at a little theatre owned by a company which also owned other theatres across the country.  One weekend our Executive Director had to suddenly be away which happened to be the very same weekend the owner of the whole theatre corporation was coming into town for meetings the following week.  Soooo, it fell upon myself and the Artistic Director, Sam, to show Bob the town all weekend.🙃

So Sam and I very carefully planned out a itinerary of museums, concerts, and the kinds of things we thought Bob would like to see.

However, when Sam and I picked Bob up at the airport, he shot our careful planning all to hell!  Bob wanted to get out and have some fun!  Believe me, museums and concerts DEFINITELY were not on Bob's itinerary!🤔

Of course I would ask, "Have you ever been to horse races?  Would you like to spend time at the track first?"

"Yes!  That's it, Adelaide!  I've never been to a horse race before!  Let's do it!"👍

So we got to the track in time for the second race.  But first Sam and I had to give Bob a crash course in how best to pick horses and place a bet.

Bob had beginners luck by choosing a horse we suggested and he won!  Bob went crazy with excitement!😃

As I was looking to see who was running in the third race I saw there was a horse running named...and I'm not kidding...Little Peon, who was a HUGE longshot.  Not expected to win at all.  No way.  Was a very small horse.  Waaay small.

So I immediately placed a $2 bet on him.  The guys thought I was crazy and they bet on other horses.

As the horses proceeded down the backstretch the announcer shouted, "LITTLE PEON IS THIRD!"

In the turn, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS, FOLKS!  LITTLE PEON IS NOW SECOND!" 

When the horses entered the homestretch the announcer went crazy!  He screamed, "LITTLE PEON IS IN THE LEAD, FOLKS!  HE'S POURING IT ON!  OH MY GOSH, LITTLE PEON IS IN THE LEAD NOW BY FIVE LENGTHS!  THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!  AT THE WIRE IT'S LITTLE PEON BY AN AMAZING FIVE LENGTHS!  Could ANYONE have possibly placed a bet on him?!!"😂

Everyone around me tore up their tickets in disgust as they grumbled.  Not ME!  

Because Little Peon was such a huge longshot, my winning ticket paid a whopping $2,200.00!  And to me that was a lot of money back then!  My only regret was I hadn't taken a plunge by betting $10!🙃

We remained for several more races having a blast.  Now the guys were asking my advice before each race, with both having good luck.  Bob said, "I've NEVER had this much fun on one of these trips!"

Oh my, after we left the track Bob kept Sam and I up until the following morning!  We sure had fun!  Even more so since Bob was paying for everything!

While still at the track I would not place anymore bets though for I was not about to lose my Little Peon windfall!😃

So you see my dear ones, never EVER underestimate the sheer power of what a LITTLE PEON is capable of accomplishing...🐎😂🐎💫

The Show Must Go On Hilarity...

Many people outside of life in theatre aside from being an audience member now and then, have very little awareness for those backstage who devote their lives relentlessly working very hard to make theatre magic actually happen.  

And happen without anything ever going wrong on Opening Night.  Or on any other night.  

Hopefully...😂🎭

Throughout North America during the summer months many theatres and Shakespeare organizations do three or more plays by Shakespeare in outdoor parks each year.  This is a way to introduce theatre to many who may not get to have a theatre experience otherwise. 

One summer a small theatre I designed for scheduled three Shakespeare plays in a lovely park.  However due to a construction job the third and last play, "Romeo And Juliet" had to be changed to another park.  A park just a bit LESS lovely than the first...as the area we had to construct a set upon was surrounded very closely by a field with cows and another with horses.  We were wondering if this WAS a real park. 

Not long after I met Aiden's parents who adored me as much as I did them, they were quite keen on not only getting to see a professional production of "Romeo And Juliet," but to see the work their future daughter in-law did.  They were even proudly bragging about me to all their friends.  They also invited them all to come see this performance too.

Aiden and I did our utmost to try to dissuade them from choosing THAT particular production but they wouldn't hear of it!  They had their hearts set on seeing the one Shakespearian play they knew.  And to bring all their friends too, so we had to hope for the best.

Yet as you may have gathered by now in reading these entertaining Theatre Hilarity blogs of mine I have been sharing here, often events unfold in very unexpected ways far beyond our control.

Since this park happened to also be in close proximity to the Chesapeake Bay too, on this particular evening we could see wind was becoming a concern.  Not good, not good.

For these outdoor productions my sets were built on the grass.  EXPOSED you might say.  So my intern and

I constructed a sturdier set than usual which actually turned out to be a very good thing.  Remember those winds.

Please also keep in mind we did not have stage left or 

stage right wings in the traditional sense because 

we were outdoors in the middle of nowhere you see.

Laura, our Costumer of course was there as was our Lighting Designer, James, and myself.

During Act I Laura's job was to assist "Juliet" in a quick dress change.

Only it became The Ripping event heard around the world.😱  Followed by a very loud expletive (which was NOT by the way, Adelaide who said it!😂).

For as our dear Laura began helping "Juliet" with her dress change, RRRRR-IPPPPPPE.  All of us "backstage" froze with horror as our eyes fell upon poor Laura and "Juliet."

So too were the eyes of The Audience, including Aiden, his parents, and everyone they ever knew who came with them.😳

You see it was Laura who delivered the loud F-Bomb!  And it wasn't "Juliet's" dress coming off that failed.  Oh no, not that at all.  For after the loud expletive Laura cried out, "My pants split!"😱

And she had very good reason to be horrified, for on 

all days for the Costume Designer to have her pants split as wide as the Amazon River out in the middle of nowhere, she happened to be wearing underpants with large bright red lettering on the rear which said, "I'M NAUGHTY," which could very clearly be seen like a 

bright neon light.

Ohhh, this was not a good day for our dear Laura to have chosen THOSE very underpants to wear.😂

Being the loyal staff members they tried very hard to be at that moment, the male staff members totally lost it.

They were rolling in the grass laughing in hysterics.  

At this point the audience began laughing out of 

control too, but had no clue other than The Huge RRRRR-IPPPPPPE heard around the world as to exactly 

what they were laughing about.🙃

Now remember we were out in the middle of nowhere here with very little means at our disposal to repair pants split wide open revealing the words, "I'm Naughty."  However, I just happened to bring along an item in case the stage needed a temporary fix.  Never ever underestimate the miracle this item is capable of for it literally saved Laura's butt.  You will be absolutely amazed by what Duct Tape can fix...😂👍

Following the RRRRR-IPPPPPPE heard around the 

world and our dear Laura's Naughtiness we assumed there couldn't possibly be any more excitement for one night, but alas, this was not to be.

For one of the mares in the horse pasture decided to pee near the fence.  Now I have seen horses pee and shit a thousand times.  Aside from those moments I would suddenly find myself accidentally being the one getting peed or shit upon by one of my horses because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, a horse peeing is really a non-event to me.  So I especially was not prepared for this event to take the attention of the audience or our staff away from Shakespeare that it did. 

But it did.

Because when horses pee they can REALLY PEE!  We are talking Niagara Falls here folks!  I'm not kidding!😂

And for the hoomans transfixed by watching this event not even Shakespeare himself coming back to life could have held their attention like the horse peeing did!🤩

Remember the cows?  During late spring into summer 

a farmer keeps his prize bull with the cows for the sake of making calves.  Well apparently no one happened to mention this very important fact to our Artistic Director when he was shown the park where we would be staging Romeo And Juliet.

Unfortunately the bull did not give us the consideration of holding off his love making until AFTER the play or at least confining his activities during Intermission.  Oh no, not THIS bull!😱

For you see just after Act II began when things are SUPPOSED to be getting really serious in "Romeo And Juliet," RIGHT BY THE FENCE CLOSEST TO THE AUDIENCE the bull mounted his love interest!🤣  

Then the friggin bull began MOOING.  LOUDLY MOOOOOING!  EVERYONE including the actors were now focusing their attention on the BOVINE romance scene happening before them!💥

BOVINE BONKING had totally derailed our Shakespeare production!🤣

For most of the audience and our staff were not used to seeing these kinds of things unless you're Adelaide of course.😂

After the bonking the bull and his love interest for the moment finally ambled off together.

We thought surely nothing else could happen.  

But it did.

And then...AND THEN...right at the climatic moment near the end of "Romeo And Juliet," the winds REALLY began picking up.  A chauffeur of an elderly couple he worked for waiting in the car suddenly came running over.  Said the weather forecaster indicated a funnel cloud had been sighted nearby and we should take cover!😱

However this situation was having no effect on the 

bull I must say, as he was now bonking another cow.  I had never realized their "recovery" turnaround time 

in-between bonking was quite THAT fast.😂 

Anyway we got the audience members and ourselves under the only place we could take cover under in the middle of nowhere which happened to be the stage set.  Thankfully the set I designed included a stage about 4' above the ground so we all crammed beneath it for an eternity.  Aiden's parents for some reason thought this was an ideal time to introduce me to all their friends.

Luckily nothing but high winds happened and the set my intern and I constructed held up quite well.  Aiden's parents and their friends were very pleased.  But they were all a bit confused though as to just how the bonking bull became included into OUR version of "Romeo And Juliet."🙄

Aiden explained to all it was because OUR version was 

a modern one they were VERY privileged to get to see first...😂

We decided to all leave it at that.👏🎭😂🤣😂🎭👏

     The place where the most hilarious production of

"Romeo And Juliet" ever happened.  There just is no

 business like our beloved show business.🤩🎭

The Safest Place...

When theatre has grabbed your heart one of the safest places to be in the world is the stage....assuming of course a theatre light doesn't come crashing down, or the stage gets waxed by mistake making it slippery as hell sending an actor flying into the orchestra pit, or a new acting intern doesn't play with the Scene Designer's nail gun as if it were a toy, or a props mistress doesn't tip over a huge bucket of marbles that roll across the stage in all directions during a performance, or acting interns who are supposed to be singing in a chorus don't find a way to hang a rope from the proscenium arch somehow late one night to swing on that causes a near disaster the next night during a performance, or the new falling rain machine doesn't malfunction nearly drowning the Scene and Lighting Designers working on a set, or...well...uh...ahem...like I said, for those of us who gave our hearts to theatre the stage really IS the safest, best, most fun, most wonderful place in the world to be because you see...

There's no business like show business 

Like no business I know 

Everything about it is appealing...

Nowhere can you get that happy feeling 

There's no people like show people 

They smile when they are low 

Yesterday they told you, you would not go far 

That night you open and you're a star

Let's go on with the show!

The costumes, the scenery, the makeup, the props 

The audience that lifts you when you're down 

The headaches, the heartaches, the backaches, the flops...

The opening when your heart beats like a drum 

The closing when the audience doesn't come

There's no people like show people 

They smile even when they are low...

You may be stranded out in the cold 

But still you wouldn't change it for a sack of gold 

Let's go on with the show, let's go on with the show!

The Window Of Heaven...

When one spends a great amount of time in hospitals including pediatric and adult cancer wards too, one sees a lot. 

 

My first experience witnessing a terrible death in a hospital was when I was nineteen during my first spine surgery and learning to walk again.  For several days the hospital became so busy cancer patients had to be admitted to beds on the Neurosurgery Wing.

A lady named Mrs. Shields was in the room across the hall from me.  She was not very old but bless her heart, had been so terribly ravaged by cancer she appeared ancient.  And she was not expected to live much longer.

She was terrified and apparently whatever she was given for pain her last day was not enough.  For hours she screamed and cried, then kept thrashing in her bed.  Her family was VERY distraught as would be expected. 

All of this I couldn't help but hear and witness too that long horrible day as her door kept being left opened.  And mine.  I couldn't get out of bed on my own yet to shut it as I still barely had leg function.  It was awful.  I still have these terrible images I so wish I could erase from my mind. 

Sometimes these days I have what I call my "ten second moments," when I fear my own impending death.  Because I already live with such horrendous 

pain and sickness my ten second moment may hit me with the "how much worse can it get if it is THIS bad NOW" kind of fear.  

Yet only for a "ten second moment" though because 

I quickly jerk myself out of such fear.  I also focus on two other far different passings in the pediatric oncology ward which happened several years later when I was there.

The first was Josh who was fourteen years old who 

had been fighting a rare form of cancer for much of his young life.  Finally nothing more could be done.  With his parents and a minister at his beside Josh was no longer conscious.  All at once Josh awoke exclaiming, "Mom!  Dad!  Look at the angels!  They're beautiful!"  And he slipped away.  His parents and the minister felt they had been given a tremendous gift.  They had, for they were given what touchingly was known on the ward as being the "Heaven Window." 

Marcy was six and dying after a long leukemia battle.  She had been unconscious for hours with her parents by her side.  Suddenly she sat up telling her parents Grandpa Hogan was there to take her to Heaven.  Then she slumped over and was gone.

Grandpa Hogan, Marcy's Great Grandfather had died years before Marcy was born.  She never even knew him other than seeing him in a few old photographs.  Her parents were both grieving and happy at the same time, realizing they too had been given the miracle gift of the "Heaven Window."

So whenever I have one of my "ten second moments," I jerk my thoughts away to the bright images I have in my mind of the "Heaven Window," knowing I also will one day soar right through it.

Hopefully upon a horse with wings too.

Finding Hope...

About fifteen years after I graduated high school I  wanted to let a teacher know who had come to my rescue at age thirteen when I needed someone the most, what an impact her kindness had on my life 

then.  She was still teaching so I left my name and number with the office.

Immediately Mrs. Landau called.

"Oh my gosh, Adelaide!  You have no idea how excited 

I am you called!  I have thought of you so often.  You were like a little sister to my sons and they often fondly remember when you stayed with us.  And of course so do I."

"Wow Mrs. Landau!  I am thrilled I could find you!  I have never forgotten what you did for me.  You see I really wanted to be able to thank you because you're one of the reasons why I am living a very amazing journey."

Mrs. Landau promptly invited me to come to her home the following weekend for the first of many wonderful visits prior to her passing.  I will forever be grateful we not only reconnected but I was at last able to thank her.

By the time I slammed into adolescence, the violence, rejection, and ridicule I was living with had escalated with nowhere to turn.  For years I had already been an adult living in a kid's body, as I wrote about in my blog piece "The Meadows Orphanage," where I often stayed between the ages of nine to twelve.  My dear friends there were also adults in kids bodies.  Since we never really got to BE kids by what we had to endure is why we were already adults in kids bodies.  We had to be in order to survive the awful situations our adults kept 

us thrust in.  

Sadly when the state closed The Meadows my friends were all sent far away to foster homes.  After we were separated forever something broke within me.  I was still strong, still pressed on, yet something within shattered.

My first poem at age thirteen says it all:

Where there is hope left to be found,

The sun will shine big and round,

Yet when the light of hope dies out,

Nothing is left but shadows of doubt.

Again I was amazingly blessed with a person there for me when I needed someone most, my English teacher Mrs. Landau.  She was not only deeply moved by the poem I wrote for her assignment, but felt especially moved to reach out to a child who clearly needed someone.  An adult in a kid's body whose hope had waned.

Mrs. Landau not only embraced me with loving support, but had me come stay with her family on weekends.  What her loving presence and wisdom gave me were the ways to become strong at my broken places.  Most of all she restored my hope.  From there my innate sense of positivity was reignited again.  Her nurturing also restored my innate sense of outgoingness too. 

I can never begin to adequately convey what the power of having an adult like her in my life then whose love and believing in me did for me.  Mrs. Landau threw wide open my hope door.  Surviva-soaring Adelaide was on her way!

As I have shared here before, despite being a Little Person, despite my awful childhood, for this very challenging journey of mine I came packaged with an indomitable spirit, determination in spades, and an innate sense of positivity.  Mrs. Landau powerfully reignited all of these.

All it took was this one adult who reached out to a terrified kid forced to live with violence and horrendous challenges without the security and acceptance of loving parents.  And because of this one adult who showed love and acceptance, THIS very TALL little adult living in a kid's body back then made it. 

All These Things Count...

As you have probably gathered by now I packed a lot of living into my life inbetween all the many hospital stays, knowing there would come the time when my physical battles became more and more incapacitating...which is where I now am.  However I am exceedingly grateful for being able to have done so much.

There is a great deal of talk about having a bucket list these days.  And for me there are only two things I would had loved to have been able to do I was unable to get done.

One thing I touched on in a previous blog was I took flying lessons.  I love flying.  I was about to begin my third lesson when my blood counts plummeted again and I got whisked off to a pediatric cancer ward for a new bone marrow drug, having to be isolated for a long period of time.  This was during the same time I met Michael who was also on the ward, and we did the infamous Goldfish Caper together I wrote about earlier.

Since I was in the ward so long, by the time I got out I had life, work, and a horse waiting to plunge back into.  So I never got to complete learning how to fly and that is something I wished I had been able to finish doing.

Yet even more than that the one HUGE thing I have longed to do since I can remember is to combine two of the things I love most, which are horses and beaches.  For I have always wanted to gallop a horse on a beach.  This for me would have been "The Ultimate" thing to do.

As it is galloping a horse bareback on a beach will have to remain elusive.  And yet, I have been so blessed to be on each of my seven horses bareback, soaring freely across many vast fields without wings.

Did you know many live their entire lives within twenty miles from where they were born?  Or spend their lives working in a profession unfulfilling to them?

Despite all my challenges I have lived or been all over this country with my horses working as a Theatre Scene Designer.  Both horses and Theatre Scene Design held my heart with a passion too deep for words.  Both horses and a career as a Scene Designer should have been beyond my reach.  Unattainable.  Crazy to dare go after.

But I did anyway because they were my deep abiding passion.

Perhaps I never got my pilot's license or galloped a horse along a beach yet I have been able to do a thousand things many have never done.  For you see, I am one of the lucky ones who still got to live a life so very deep.  So very full.  

And most of all, so very, very BIG.

To Maryland...

Several weeks after The Ride Patches and I did which endeared us to thousands, it was time for us to be on our way to Maryland.  One of the donations was Sallee Horse Transportation of free transport for Patches to Maryland with a future return to Kentucky if and when needed.

As touched on in previous blogs I had raised Patches from a tiny foal and we were very close.  Due to the extraordinary ways the public became so inspired and touched by our story with all the media coverage, two television stations wanted to be there when Patches would leave first...then I would follow the next day in my car.

So there was quite a crowd when Sallee Horse Transportation arrived.  Only they didn't send just
any small van.  They sent a HUGE semi-truck size horse van!  And due to its size the road had to be closed by police, since the van was so huge it couldn't fit in the gate of the place where I had Patches...the farm with the miniature horses.

The same two policemen who escorted Patches and I during The Ride insisted upon being there to help this day too.

Unbelievably Patches would be the only horse in that truck!  The whole truck just for him!  With the crowd watching and the television cameras rolling it was time for me to bring Patches down the tree shaded lane.  Everything suddenly became quiet.  As Patches and I neared the ramp leading inside the truck the driver met us and asked for Patches' lead shank.  He explained only drivers were allowed to load horses so I complied.

As the driver tried to lead Patches up the ramp, Patches suddenly realized I wasn't leading him and slammed to a stop jerking his head around to look at me.  When he did I realized I suddenly had a huge lump caught in my throat.🥺

Patches was not about to move.  At that moment the farm owner said to the driver, "Uh sir, Patches is not going up that ramp without Adelaide by his side."

The driver began to say something about company policy when our two policemen stepped forward.  They said the responsibility would be theirs if anything happened but nothing would because they had traveled with us those ten miles witnessing the bond we shared.  So Sam, the driver handed the lead shank back to me.

Without a problem I led Patches into the van and Sam helped me get Patches situated in a small stall with hay and water.  I sent his bucket and lead shank on for the farm in Maryland.  They too were located on a small road and Sam had to park a long way from their farm.  Patches arrived there at 3am!  So in the dark, in strange hands and in a strange place, Patches was led to his new farm.  I was SO proud to hear how well he handled it, and how everyone had already fallen in love with him!

Very early that same morning I too left Kentucky for Maryland...a twelve hour drive.  I drove straight to the farm.  It was pitch dark.  I could barely make out what appeared to be a barn roof.  Then I softly said Patches' name and immediately heard him respond.  So back and forth we went until I felt my way to his stall.  He was SO happy to "see" me that he kept rubbing his head up and down me.

So Adelaide, horse, cat, rabbit, and goldfish had finally arrived in Maryland on the wings of the thousands who were deeply touched and inspired by our story.  And our inspiring story was still far from over.😃💫

       After Patches planted his feet here Sam has just               handed the lead shank back to me...

With the lead shank back in my hands Patches is now following me into the huge horse van heading to Maryland fifteen hours ahead of me.   Horses are 

notorious for rolling in mud after their owners have

bathed them in the hope those who see the horse

may be impressed how clean they are, which Patches

in these photos clearly is not...🤣

You Matter...

As I have often shared in previous blogs I have been blessed with many who became very dear.  From early childhood then later when living a nightmare at home, three teachers took my hand pouring their hearts and encouragement into me.  Then the dear mentor friends who entered my young life, each giving me powerful gifts of learning and love I have passed on here.  And the many dear friends throughout my whole journey since, now including my Twitter family and you, my readers.

One gift I had even at a very young age which yet burns bright is expressing my gratitude for others.  For you see we just never know which way the wind may blow tomorrow, when we may not get to express our appreciation to those we are grateful for.  

With as many dear to me I have lost along my way, I am so grateful I had nailed down the importance of this at such a young age, by expressing my appreciation to others or telling them what they mean while they are alive to hear me express it.  For what are words of appreciation after one is gone who cannot hear or read them?  And to know how much they mattered?

My dear friend Nora would often say in her speaking engagements concerning this very topic, "Give your flowers of appreciation BEFORE the funeral, not after someone you cared about has gone."🌺

Not long ago a friend of mine came across a very dusty old box filled with letters from the 1870's to 1940's.  We spent hours reading all these treasures and were profoundly moved by them. 

You see there was a common thread running through these letters.  Each letter told others how much they cared, gave reassurances things would get better, believed in others surmounting situations, and most of all, just telling each other how wonderful they were, how appreciated, and loved.

Even if we no longer write letters on paper or send cards these days (though we should), we still can express our gratitude to others on social media and take the time to tell others what they mean to us.  To thank them for being on the journey of life with us.  Or to just simply express how much they matter.  

So many times after I have sent a card or letter or expressed myself online, I often hear how much my words have meant.  For you see sometimes just  knowing one is held in appreciation can mean everything because we're saying they matter.💫

As I have often expressed here, what remains from all we are is the love we live, dear ones.  Now more than ever write your flowers of appreciation or love to those who matter to you near or far.  Share your flowers before the hands of time may forever take the chance away.  

For believe me, the treasure will be theirs.  

And especially yours.🌺💕💫

Military Adelaide...

Along the way when I had long hospital stays, often the theatre I was designing for would have to arrange for another Scene Designer to take over because in theatre the show must go on.  Then when I was able to again I would take on what I refer to as my interval jobs usually outside of theatre until I could get back to theatre where my heart was.

Another one of these interval jobs I had following one of my long hospital stays was working in both the civilian and federal government capacity helping veterans obtain their benefits.  The job was located on a military base far out in the country to accommodate all the military helicopters and other aircraft.  There was even a base tavern just for base personnel open in the evenings.    

My civilian coworker was a tough lady who had a heart of gold, cussed like a sailor, drank like a fish, and smoked like a chimney.  Her name was Rita.  And Rita had quite a story too.  Five years earlier Rita and her dear husband were driving into town to get take-out dinners for their four children and them.  A drunk driver hit their car head on killing Rita's soul mate instantly and nearly her.  She came close to losing her leg, yet fought like hell to walk again despite the prognosis.  

So here she was suddenly a widow with four kids.  She soon landed the job at the military base.  Though she usually kept people at arms length, she immediately formed a bond with me as I too, fought to walk yet again.  And she loved my wicked sense of humor.😂

Now Rita, who had never drank before this job, took up drinking at the base tavern.  As her drinking worsened she kept begging me to join her.  Since I didn't drink due to being on pain medication (and still haven't for the same reason) Rita would have me drive her home and spend the night, which I did for a time.  I got to know her kids and they adored me as I did them.  The youngest was deaf and thrilled to have someone outside her family who knew Sign Language.

One night Rita REALLY got drunk.  Finally, I got her to leave.  Only there was a problem.  My car didn't start.  Though I could reach the pedals and drive her sports car without using extensions, technically I wasn't supposed to.  Unfortunately there was no way to remove my extensions on my car without tools which we obviously didn't have.  Rita begged me to drive her car anyway.

"Well whash could go wr-wr-wrong?" she said. "Aww, come on Shadelaide, we've jus' got to get home!  My k-k-kids...hiccup...shwill be waitin' ups for ush.  How elsh can we...hiccup...do thish?"

Thankfully we didn't have far to go on a country backroad.  After some silent prayers on my part I drove.  And then...

"Shaydelaide, I wanna shmoke now."

"NOT NOW!"

"Oh but Shaydelaide, I...hiccup...NEED a shmoke!"

"You're going to wait!"

"Yesh, mam!"  As she attempted a salute and accidentally whacked me in the face.🥴

Then she got all teary and mushy on me.

"Shaydelaide, do youse know yoursh the b-b-bestest friend I...hiccup...have eversh had?  Yoush r-really are."

"That's sweet."

"Shaydelaide, can I shmoke yet?"

"NO!"

"Uh oh.  Shaydelaide...hiccup...I need to pee."

"YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD IT!"

"Yesh shir!!  I mean...hiccup...your majusht...your majush...oh hell...your highness-sess.  Uh, Shaydelaide, what am I shitting on?"

"You're sitting on your coat."

"Uh-oh...hiccup...I think it-est wet."🙃

We made it.  That was the most crazy drive I ever made.  And the last with Rita.  

Though the word for this is called an intervention now, this is what her kids and I did by seizing the moment the next day.  We knew she needed help. 

 

I told her drowning her sorrow in alcohol was making her kids feel like orphans because she was lost in drinking.  I also shared how she could scar them for life if she didn't get a grip on herself and acknowledge she had a very serious problem.  We understood why she was drinking, but she was letting it destroy her life and her kids who needed her.  From that moment she got sober and changed.

She still swore and smoked like crazy though but we were all thrilled she wasn't drinking anymore.

Soon after a theatre needed me and since Theatre Scene Design had hold of my heart, Selah and I galloped off to yet another bright new chapter of my journey.  

Everyone hated to see me go.  Even the Adjutant General himself begged me to stay.  Said the base wouldn't be the same without me.😂

For a time I kept in touch with everyone.  Rita eventually married again and life was good for all.  Said I would always be the best friend she ever had.

"Adelaide, you really saved my life and gave my kids their mother back.  But you know what?  I still cannot remember how we got home that night."

"That's WHY I intervened."💫  

"And why we are all so grateful you did."

Compassion Personified...

The Webster Dictionary definition for compassion is embracing the pain of another; a touching desire to help; expressing words of comfort especially when one has suffered a loss; showing tender concern by entering another's emotional experience.

Two days before Christmas I had my second spine surgery where again everything went wrong nearly paralyzing me.  Nineteen hours in I suddenly began bleeding out very heavily and I almost died through no fault of my surgeon.

Immediately following surgery a very massive hematoma formed pressing on my spinal cord slowly paralyzing me.  My dear orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Mortara, rushed back in to then do a four hour emergency surgery to remove the hematoma.  So we ended up being in surgery for twenty-three hours that day.

Dr. Mortara has featured in two other blogs here where I have shared the very humorous bond we had bantering back and forth with each other.  Like when I fractured my tailbone in two places after my horse Bashum stumbled while galloping.  I feared Dr. Mortara would be upset.  Instead he came in laughing, teasing me how I couldn't just fracture my tailbone in one place, but two.  I then responded I liked to think BIG.  He not only loved my attitude but the ways I didn't let my dwarfism define me.  And that I was a fighter.  I had been his patient for several years prior to the spine surgery, so we knew each other quite well by then.

Two days after the spine surgery in ICU on Christmas Day I finally awoke...just in time to see Dr. Mortara coming.  He looked terrible.  He was very anxious to see if I still had any movement in my legs.  As hard as I tried only some toes on my right foot moved.  

I already knew what had happened as I was the one who alerted them in recovery something was terribly wrong immediately following the nineteen hour surgery which is when the massive hematoma was discovered.

Suddenly I was shown just how much I had come 

to mean to Dr. Mortara as a patient because tears began pouring down his face while he struggled to say, "Everything was going so well, and then the bleeding from out of nowhere happened.  Then this...this terrible hematoma.  You have your horse, your work, such a full life...and..."  

He then began choking up and crying so hard I began choking up too yet not for me...him!  I was profoundly touched by his concern and deeply moved by his tears.

Though there were tubes everywhere and I was so weak I managed to grab hold of his hand.

"Dr. Mortara, none of this is your fault.  WE are going to surmount this, okay?  I've got movement in those toes and that's a beginning.  I will be focusing on my toes until they all move, then my feet and legs just like I did the first time this happened.  When I leave this building I will walk out of it.  And I WILL be galloping on Patches again."

Then he cried harder!

Through his tears though, Dr. Mortara managed to tell me it was because he was so moved by MY comforting HIM!  He had been feeling utterly devastated.

"Adelaide, that your fighting spirit hasn't been lost is the best Christmas gift I have been given.  And I believe you WILL walk again.  When you leave this place I will be right there to walk with you."

Two months later, I did and he did.  

Only due to hospital protocol I was made to ride in a wheelchair TO the door.  It had taken me two months of very hard work just to be able to do my hard won "shuffle" by then.  

So slowly, as Dr. Mortara let me lean on him, I was escorted to the waiting ambulance taking me home, as a host of nurses, doctors, and cleaning staff who had come to know me too, were all clapping.

 

Compassion is the most healing of all our emotions, though not everyone has it.  Yet for those who do, compassion is quite powerful because it transforms lives.  

Especially the way it did for a beloved surgeon in tears at the bedside of his special patient in a ICU one Christmas Day...

The Little Samurai With Bright Sun...

After the tragic death of Aiden and the shining life lost we had together I left Maryland with Patches in tow for a small theatre as Scene Designer.  I knew this would be my last Design Season and likely my final move as my health was severely deteriorating.

Yet before I left Maryland a bright magical encounter happened and one clearly meant to happen...

  

A Japanese actor in a production at a theatre I had done the set for and I became friends.  Miko had been in the U.S. with his family for several years after they moved to Maryland.  Miko's parents who were both educators came too and Miko's Grandfather.

It was not long before I became close with them all.  Especially Miko's grandfather, Akio.  Now Akio knew as much English as I knew Japanese which was zilch.  But sometimes when a special friendship is meant to be not even a language barrier gets in the way.

For you see Akio was an artist who rendered beautiful pieces in Japanese ink, having learned from his father and grandfather.  Sadly though neither his son or grandson had any interest in being taught the ancient techniques.

Then along comes Adelaide who had a passion for Japanese ink drawings of all time periods.  I loved working with Japanese ink.  But because of my work and caring for a horse what I learned came only from books.  So to encounter Akio, a Japanese artist taught in the ancient techniques was thrilling.

I hit it off with Akio the moment we met.

When Miko introduced us, Akio told Miko I was short which Miko translated to me.  

I responded with laughter in my usual very dignified good behavior by suddenly blurting out, "No shit!"😳

Well "shit" just happened to be a word in English Akio 

knew and burst into laughter shocking his family.  He told Miko he thought "the bright sun" was in me.  So we really hit it off.  Who knew "shit" would be the beginning of a very dear friendship?!!😂

The next time I saw Akio I brought an album I threw together to open my life up for him.  I had photos of me in various phases of theatre set construction and scene painting.  As Akio's family explained what I did, he expressed to them how impressed he was by my work in theatre.

Then I showed him my Patches photos.  And guess what Akio asked his family to ask me?!!  Drumroll...the question I am asked more than any other, "How DOES she get ON her horses?!!"  Only in Japanese.

He was impressed.

Akio became more impressed much to my delight when I showed him my equine art.  And then...AND THEN...my Japanese ink drawings.  Akio's eyes suddenly filled with tears. 

Then when I asked if he would teach me the ancient techniques Akio had tears pouring down his cheeks.  He was very touched to discover someone who knew and appreciated the ancient techniques and was eager to be taught by a master in them.

Now it was my turn to be touched.  He agreed.  Even said it would be an honour!  Soon we all had tears.

So began the odyssey of teacher and student.  All because the only word of English Akio knew was "shit."

The wise teacher and eager student were on our own for the ancient technique sharing.  For you see the sharing of art transcends language.  Especially when there is passion involved.  For nearly four months we

painted together.  Then apparently my dear teacher who was in his late eighties had sensed his time to cross over was near as he was busy with the help of his son preparing a large wooden box for the "no shit" friend and student he treasured having as much as I did Akio.

We really had a special bond.

After Akio crossed peacefully in his sleep one night, Miko and his parents had me over.  Said they had something very special to present me with.  But first Akio's son wanted me to know how much I had brightened his father's life.

Until then, I did not know, but Akio also referred to me as "the little Samurai," because he felt my indomitable spirit.  And he believed anyone as little as me galloping on the barebacks of horses had to have the courage of the Samurai.

In the wooden box were Akio's brushes of all sizes handed down for generations as well as pens made out of various woods to be dipped in ink too.  There were bottles and bottles of the finest ink made in Japan, including the finest, exquisite papers made by hand for ink painting.

And finally, something to me more special than all:  a heavy Samurai Horse two centuries old made out of sterling silver and pewter.  The arch of the neck of this horse has been worn smooth as you will soon see.  

Why?

Because it has been believed by rubbing the neck one will be smiled upon, able to win the battles to be fought.

Akio believed I needed all the help I could get in fighting mine.

I have three drawing/art tables.  On one is where I keep this special and very treasured Samurai Horse.  He proudly stands with his arched neck worn smooth with the hands of those who came before me.  Since he is also where I take my forty-seven pills each day, we spend a lot of time together. 

And always my fingers reach out to rub the neck as I remember a dear Samurai who came before me who passed along his art to his eager student. 

And oh, so much more.

Barefoot, Riding, And Blowing Bubbles On A Backroad...

God took a handful of southerly wind, blew His breath over it, and created the horse.

                                         ~Bedouin Legend

Years before Patches came along I boarded my beloved horse Selah at the same farm.  Selah was a beautiful bay horse with black mane, tail, and lower legs, as well as having a white blaze.

One of the other boarders had a yearling colt pony they were trying to decide if they should have gelded or not.  [Ahem...for those unfamiliar with equine terminology, a gelded horse is the same as a neutered cat or dog.😄]

When those of us who owned mares expressed concern to Pete about how much longer was he going to wait, he of course insisted there was no way Rocky could impregnate the mares.  Was way too young he said.  Couldn't possibly reach them anyway he said.

By Fall it was obvious to those of us with mares to see we had EXPECTING mares thanks to Rocky, "the way too young who couldn't possibly reach the mares" yearling pony colt who was then very quickly removed from the farm after all the fun he managed to have.😂

In Spring the foals began coming.  Selah gave birth to a lovely little filly I named Rachel.  I was there when she was born and we immediately bonded.

Since I could not afford to keep two horses I knew I would need to sell Rachel and it wasn't going to be easy.  Nevertheless, when she was old enough to be weaned I had her moved to another farm.  After she was almost two, like with Patches later I simply began riding her because of the sweet bond we had.

This farm was located near trails reached by various backroads.

One Summer day riding bareback in my bare feet blowing huge bubblegum bubbles, I was riding Rachel down one of the backroads to reach the trails.

A man in a car slowly passed us.  He turned around 

and passed us again slowly.  

Then he turned around yet again and came back towards us.  By this point I was obviously very uneasy in the middle of nowhere.  On my horse.  Suddenly the man stopped and got out of his car.

By the look on my face he quickly reassured me and showed me his newspaper I.D. and camera explaining he was a photographer for the newspaper.  He LOVED the image of Rachel and I riding her bareback in my bare feet blowing bubbles.  He asked for permission to take our photo.  

The next day there we were Rachel and I on the front page with my face mostly obscured by this gigantic bubble I was asked to please, PLEASE blow for the proper effect.  The dear photo (I am trying to locate) was titled, "Blowing Bubbles On Horseback."

Being a Little Person had nothing to even do with it and I absolutely loved this!

And do you know what else?  The newspaper received several calls from people wanting to know if Rachel was for sale!

I interviewed each one then checked them out first before deciding on the one who would buy Rachel.  She went on to have a much loved happy life all because one bright Summer day we were on a backroad in the middle of nowhere with me blowing big bubblegum bubbles while riding bareback and barefoot...🐎😃🐎💫

A Day To Be Held Forever...

All I seek is Heaven above me, and a horse beneath me.

"Hey Adelaide!  Let's swim across on our horses!"

"Oh Rob," said Lacy to her brother, "do you think we should?  It could be deep."

"Yeah," I responded, "but it would be fun!  And besides, it's SO hot today!" 

"Aww common, Lacy!  Let's do it for the horses!" said Rob, as we both looked at Lacy with our pleading eyes which always worked.

Now this was not just any pond.  This was a HUGE pond, about the equivalent of a soccer/football field!  On my Shetland pony, Sadie.  With my best friends Lacy and her brother Rob and their horses I wrote about in my "Mustang Show Ring" blog.

Sadie was a dear, sweet black and white pinto, and she absolutely LOVED water!  We could not just cross a creek, you see.  Sadie had to splash in it until she got us both drenched...which is exactly why I never went anywhere NEAR a creek during winters.

Lacy's horse was a beautiful black Quarter Horse mare named Vandalla, and Rob's horse Havoc was a large black and white pinto pony.  Like me they rode bareback and often barefoot too during the summer months.  And there was not a trail or field for miles we had not galloped on with our beloved horses.  

As I touched on before we three lived with alcoholism and violence in our homes, which not only made us profoundly grateful for our horses but for each other too.

One bright summer day we discovered this amazing long trail that went through a forest and then suddenly opened up into these vast fields with this HUGE pond.  It was when we took our horse and ponies to let them drink and Sadie began splashing that Rob thought it would be great fun for us to swim across.  Something none of us had ever done before. 

All we did was give the three each a little nudge and they plunged in with no hesitation!  Since Sadie was a small pony we began swimming immediately!  Rather she swam and I swam beside her holding onto her mane and the reins.  Vandalla with Lacy, and Havoc with Rob, were soon swimming next to us doing the same.

We hadn't exactly planned the best way we should exit the pond though which would have been a very good thing to have planned first.  Like should we try to be on their backs when we came out? 

As we neared the shore we instinctively floated over their backs so when they came out we would be on them.  Hopefully.  Only horses become very slippery when soaking wet.  And I am talking SLIPPERY.  VERY SLIPPERY.

We made a grand exit beneath a grove of trees when we came out of the pond.  Immediately our horses shook off the water and then each of us too.  Laughing our heads off.  

AND THAT IS WHEN WE SAW IT.

Apparently older teenagers or young adults used the secluded place to have fun and romance.  And they were carrying huge amounts of loose change on them too which had escaped their pockets unawares for before us bright shining change was everywhere!

By the time we gathered it all up and counted it there was exactly $12.30, which back in those days and to three kids who earned our own money to care for our horses it was a hell of a lot of money to find!  Dividing it we each had $4.10 and were absolutely thrilled!

In those days there was a country store not far from where we were called The Hitching Post with an actual hitching post in front for their horseback riding clientele.  Only when WE three were lucky enough to have Coke money we took turns going in because we were so protective of our horses.

Immediately we rode to The Hitching Post.  We could have bought comic books and a bunch of candy but we didn't.  We did each buy a Coke, candy bar, and a carrot and apple for each of our horses.  As we sat beneath a tree enjoying these with our horses we were still marveling at both the swimming and finding treasure we would not have found had we not gone swimming with our horses in the first place.

Soon it was time to go our separate ways and head to whatever would be waiting for us at our homes.  Yet we all three decided that no matter what happened or where our lives would take us we had just shared the best day young friends may have that neither time, distance, or circumstance could ever take from our grasp.

"If the hands of time could be held, I would keep them warm within my grasp and never let them go."

                                             ~Brian's Song

 

The One Who Inspired Me...

First, for those of you who may not know who the legendary actor Joel Grey is, he with Liza Minelli starred in the Academy Award winning 1972 film "Cabaret," has been a Broadway star for decades, and yes, is even the beloved father of the "Dirty Dancing" star Jennifer Grey.  He is also somebody who has meant a great deal to me too.

                                Joel Grey in Cabaret

For you see Mr. Grey not only shares the SAME birthday as mine but...BUT...he is only 5' TALL!  NOT much taller than myself so he has been a hero to me as well as being one hell of a talented man, and someone I have looked up to for many years.  In fact it was Mr. Grey in part, who helped fan into flames🔥the heart of a very young Adelaide's already burning🔥desire of becoming a Theatre Scene Designer despite the Scene Designer Profession being dominated by men and the daunting height challenges to be faced. 

 

Even wrote Mr. Grey a letter telling him all this too.  He  was so kind to respond by telling me how whenever 

we theatre people have that burning fire🔥of ambition 

in our heart, no matter how height lacking we may be nothing...NOTHING will keep us from reaching our dream and making it our reality.

Though I certainly had the boldness, determination, 

and fire🔥in my heart with ambition to plunge forth to reaching my dream, Mr. Grey's words ignited me even more.🔥 

As you know by reading this blog I successfully attained the ambition in my heart, even with height challenges.  For you see anyone crazy enough to gallop across fields upon the barebacks of all her horses at speeds nearly exceeding Secretariat's, is crazy enough to follow her heart into a challenging profession and not only do it thirty-six years in between many surgeries but do it well. 

Now should you be wondering if Mr. Grey and I ever met since I have a tendency to run into some very famous people along the way as shared here, do please keep reading.🤔

First though, more about some of Joel Grey's other well known roles.  In 1968 Mr. Grey originated the role of George M. Cohan in the musical "George M."  He later was in "Normal Heart" about Aids, "Wicked," the very long running "Chicago," and the very successful revival of "Anything Goes." 

Joel Grey and Sutton Foster, "Anything Goes" Rehearsal 

Though he would still currently be performing at the young age of eighty-nine, the virus has closed theatres.

Yet Mr. Grey keeps busy with photography and art.

Now then...did we ever meet?!!

Remember in my two blogs describing the summer Theatre Scene Designer Workshop I was honoured to participate in when through an amazing set of circumstances I had a horse to ride in Central Park during those four months?  And literally running right smack into Leonard Bernstein as we both rounded a corner in a backstage hallway at Lincoln Center one day?

Another day while near the Minkoff Theatre where a revival of "Cabaret" was running, I was rushing to go meet my friends at the stable where our horses were for a ride in Central Park that afternoon.  As often happens busy people tend not to expect a Little Person to be way down here.  Even a dear hooman who may be a bit height deficient as Joel Grey.🤣

As I was very preoccupied with dodging people on the crowded sidewalk unaware a hooman was down below here, one plowed right into me.  A short one.

In my typical Adelaide very dignified fashion after seeing WHO had plowed into me I blurted out, "Awww hell, it's YOU!"

Whereupon Mr. Grey responded, "AWWW HELL, IT'S YOUUUUU!"😂

By the way, at this point he had NO IDEA who the hell I was except for the very rare fact he nearly ran over an adult hooman who was actually shorter than he was!

As I extended my hand out to Mr. Grey I warmly said to him, "Oh how wonderful it is to meet you and did you know how much you inspired me with the letter you wrote and we both have the same birthday too?!!"

You see I have this tendency to cram LOTS into one sentence whenever meeting somebody famous in person I adore on a very busy NYC sidewalk who just plowed into me whose letter inspired me.🤩

For the whole eternity it took after he warmly grasped my hand, Mr. Grey finally responded, "Is it YOU?  Are YOU that person?!!"

"YES!"

We then had to move over by a tree because crowds of hoomans taller than us were having difficulties getting around us once discovering we were both down here.

"How incredible!  I do vaguely remember your sweet letter!  You told me of your🔥burning desire to follow your heart into Scene Design despite any height challenges.  There was something special about your letter that touched me.  Did you become a Scene Designer?"

"I did!  I AM!  You were...ARE...someone special I look up to and yes I know I look up to everyone.  But you cared enough to take the time to encourage me.  Your letter made a difference."

"Your name...does it not begin with an "A?"  

"Yes, Mr. Grey...Adelaide."

"Adelaide, do you live here?"

"No Mr. Grey, I ha..."

"Please...call me Joel."

"Aww, thank you, Joel!  I have been here since May for a four month Scene Design Workshop wrapping up in two weeks."

"Have you had a good stay here?"

"Oh yes!  It wasn't possible for me to bring my horse with me, but my frien..."

"You have a horse?!!"

"Yes, I'm one of these craz..."

"How DO you ever get ON it?!!"

"At home I usually climb onto the hood of my car then launch myself through the air and most of the time I land on their backs.  Here I use a mounting block next to a stall door, then balance myself standing precariously on the stall door and from there land on Mugwamp's back and yes, that's his name and no, I did not name him that."😂

Suddenly, probably because we're Aries...at the same moment we both remembered we had been rushing to get some place before Mr. Grey plowed into me.

"Oh crap, Joel, I'm supposed to meet my friends for a ride on our horses to Central Park!"

"And I need to be at the theatre!  My dear Adelaide, it's not everyday I get to plow into somebody here I like who is a delight to speak with!"

"I know!  Of all the thousands to plow into me I am so thrilled it was you!  Thank you for this gift!"

"No, thank YOU Adelaide for making my day a gift!"

At that we hugged then each disappeared into the mass of humanity carrying the treasure of one very special bright encounter with us.

My one lasting regret?  This was in the days before cellphones and selfies!🙃