You'll Never Gallop Alone...

I adore the song, "You'll Never Walk Alone," and share the powerful lyrics below.  Only in true Adelaide fashion altered the lyrics slightly when I was very young...

When you gallop through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark

At the end of a storm
There's a golden sky 
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Gallop on through the wind
Gallop on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown 

Gallop on, gallop on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never gallop alone

Saving my horse Patches From Slaughter...

I want to share how Patches, the little unwanted foal in dire need and I came together.  My previous horse went blind, but a lady looking for a companion for her blind horse in a safe facility was thrilled our mutual vet told her about Havilla, so I donated Havilla to her.  I then began looking for a foal to raise and have for its' lifetime.

The farm where I boarded my horses for years was a beautiful place, owned by brothers who could be tough with their horses.  One day Paul called me to say he had found the perfect foal, a registered six month old Quarter horse colt he put in the box stall at the farm.  

Then he warned me, "The man threw in this three month runt of a foal for me to get rid of and it is in the stall too.  BE CAREFUL!  It's very dangerous!  It took four of us and a lot of beer to finally get him!"  

My heart immediately went out to the "dangerous runt."

I rushed to the farm and found the lovely fancy colt and the "dangerous runt," who had just been ripped away from his mama by four loud beer drinking men, with a heavy long rope tied around his neck looking very dejected.  As I slowly entered the stall the "runt" began to back up but I stepped on the rope.  He trembled.  I whispered I was only going to stroke his forehead so he could end the day by being touched GENTLY.  He relaxed.

From the barn phone I called Paul.  

"I'm taking the 'runt!'"  

He kindly replied, "What?!!  You're crazy!!!  He's dangerous I tell you!"

I said, "I'm taking him anyway!  Besides, you will have no trouble selling the fancy colt, and I will save you the trouble of taking the "runt" to slaughter."

"I still think you're making a huge mistake you'll regret!" 

"I'm taking him anyway.  How much?"

The next day I took sweet feed, a small halter, and grooming stuff with me.  The "runt" began to back up, then stopped...without trembling.  While he ate, I gently groomed him with no sign of any fear or "danger" at all.

Patches was a palomino pony with white patches, hence the name I immediately gave him so he would not become known as "the runt."

Day three, he nickered when he saw me.

I needed to get him out of the very dirty, dusty stall.  Told Paul I was turning him out.  

"What?!!  You're crazy!  You'll never be able to catch him again!"

"Don't worry," I said.  "We've got this."

I turned him out.  Day four, I arrived and found Patches on a hill.  I called him.  He stared intently.  When I went up to Patches, he made no attempt to run.

On day five when I called him, Patches neighed and came galloping TO me!  The "dangerous runt" was safe, 

loved, and mine.  We became very VERY close, sharing a wonderful twenty-nine years together.  They know when they are in danger and they know when they are safe.  And love grew Patches into a much larger pony than was expected.🐎💕🐎

When Patches was a little over a year old I put lead shanks on each side of his halter one day.  Got on him, and simply began riding him.  THAT was all it took!

One day Paul happened to come along and see me riding Patches.  He stammered, "You're...you're RIDING him!  How did you...I...I can't believe this!"

"Yep!  This is the 'dangerous runt' bound for slaughter. 

Still think I'm crazy?!!"🐎😃🐎

Patches At Twenty

Another Round Of Theatre Hilarity 101...

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 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.

It so happened not long after I met Aiden's parents 

who adored me as much as I did them, 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 which they were proudly bragging about to all their friends.  They also invited them all to come see the 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, so we had to hope for the best.

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

Please 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 

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 though I must say, as he was now bonking another cow.  I hadn't realized their "recovery" turnaround time in-between bonking was 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 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 why the bonking bull was included in 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...😂

And we all left it at that.👏🎭😂🤣😂🎭👏💫

The Ride Of My Life...

W. C. Fields once said, "This old world is a very tough place and you're darn lucky if you can get out of it alive."  And this world IS a very tough place indeed.  We ALL have tough challenges.  Tough challenges need tough optimism.  Often it is easier said than done.  Yet I always tend to take a deep breath and just PLUNGE forth.  Sometimes I've PLUNGED BACKWARDS though, but sometimes, the plunge forth is sweet, oh so very amazingly sweet.

My last horse Patches was a foal in dire need of being rescued when he came into my life.  How he came into my life is quite a story too, for a later blog.  In the late 1980's following spine surgery I had to learn to walk again for the second time, but was darn grateful I could.  Still there were severe complications, so I traveled to Johns-Hopkins to see the world renown Dr. Kopits, who devoted his career to Little People.  That I got to see him at all was the result of a plunge I made.  Due to the severity of my condition he asked if I could move to Baltimore.  "Why yes, of course!  I will go to my money tree!  No problem!"  I reminded him I came with a horse and cat package.😏  Financially there was just no way.  Impossible.

After I returned to Kentucky I had this idea but shoved it away.  Everything could go wrong.  Yet the idea persisted.  I would ride Patches 10 miles, involve the media, and seek pledges for each mile.  If I plunged BACK trying all this the media would be right there to show it, so I HAD to shove the crazy idea aside.

Then I was given a nudge.  More like a huge SHOVE.  I was moving Patches from one farm to one closer to my home.  One day, leaving the farm I still had him at, it suddenly came to me out of nowhere to clock the miles from one farm to the other.  I did.  

The distance...was...EXACTLY...10...MILES!

I took a deep breath and PLUNGED forth.

And what a plunging forth of faith it was!  It HAD to be.  

I contacted both the printed and television media.  "You're doing WHAT?!!"😓  

Since the first mile of The Ride involved riding down a 4 lane highway, I had to ask if police could assist.  "You're doing WHAT?!!"😓

I only asked for and received promise of a few pledges prior to The Ride because everything depended upon actually DOING The Ride with the help of media.

Then the day came.  Everybody showed up.  Patches was only 2 years old when I did this, the deep bond we shared enabling us to embark on this amazing little journey at all escorted by police and a media entourage as we began.  Aside from the traffic noise and two bridges...the one I thought Patches wouldn't have a problem with he did at first, and the one I thought would be a problem, wasn't.  Other than that we completed it in 3 hours!  

The newspaper and television pieces hit the next day.  And then...AND THEN our journey REALLY took off!  People were SO touched and inspired they couldn't get enough of us.  No one could remember my name but they sure remembered "Patches!"  I quickly became known as "the Patches lady!"  With a business prior to The Ride, in the event donations did actually come in 

we set up a trust fund, and the donations began pouring in.   

Not all was monetary.  Since I needed transportation to get Patches to Baltimore, one of the largest national horse transportation firms donated their services.  Mechanics overhauled my car so I could get there too.  A vet donated his fee to vet Patches with the paperwork needed to cross state lines.  It went on and on.

Because of the keen interest in our amazing story the media kept coming to the farm to get more coverage of Patches and I, like the way he would come running to me when he heard me call him.  The news pieces were lovely.

Yet it didn't stop in Kentucky.  The govenor of Maryland at that time learned about us and welcomed Patches and I to Maryland!   In all, The Ride received just over $11,000.00 in money and donations.  We were on our way.

All because I took a HUGE crazy leap of faith and plunged forth.  And it all went FORTH...not BACK!😊

Newspaper photo of Patches and I following The Ride

Aiden's Music Box...

There are moments in our lives where it may take just a word, a place, or a song to bring the memories of cherished moments flooding back...

Long ago and far away on a dark December Sunday after Aiden and I cared for our horses, we finally made 

a stop at a old place near the farm in rural Maryland which sold antiques and all kinds of treasure.  It was a old weathered place but very warm and cozy inside.

There were a few chairs and tables too where coffee and homemade pie could be ordered.  No way would Aiden's sweet tooth ever let us pass THAT opportunity by!

The proprietors of the place, Mr. and Mrs. Shropshire obviously were quite intrigued with us being one of us was a bit unique you see.  When they then learned we BOTH had horses they were even more intrigued.  They had two questions. 

"How did the two of you meet?"

Aiden answered, "Well, my horse wouldn't let me catch her, but Adelaide's horse always comes running to her.

My horse became buddies with hers so I had no choice BUT to get to know this lady!"

Then they asked me the infamous, "How DO you get ON your horse?!!"

We had a lovely visit with the Shropshires.  Since Dr. Kopits was well known in Maryland they knew about 

his work with Little People and asked if I knew him.

"Ohhh yes, very much so.  Dr. Kopits is why I moved here.  He asked if I could for surgeries.  He is beside himself with happiness for Aiden and I.  He even has insisted on walking me down the aisle to give me away for our wedding!"

"My oh my, you two are getting married?!!  When?"

Aiden told them.  "April 1st!"

"April Fool's Day?!!"

"Of course!  Why not?  We're fools for each other!  It will be a FUN day for a wedding!  Besides, Dr. Kopits told us he's free that weekend so Adelaide and I grabbed it."

After we were done eating pie we looked all around 

the place.  And that's when Aiden saw it.  A lovely old brass and glass music box.  After he wound it and pressed the little lever the sweet tinkling purring music box melody of "Unchained Melody" poured out filling the air and filling our hearts.  We looked at each other in wordless wonder for "Unchained Melody" was one of OUR songs.

We HAD to buy it.  Only the Shropshires wouldn't hear 

of us paying for the music box.  They dearly insisted on giving it to us for a wedding gift!  We were SO touched.

Then they had one more question.  Since they were aware of the cruel ridicule Little People live with they wondered how we dealt with it.

I explained it was because I lived with cruel ridicule all my life, obviously I was more "used" to it than Aiden.  It really was hard for him and understandably so to see and hear what the non-humans were capable of doing.

It was a challenge for him to ignore such behavior for everything within him wanted only to protect me.  He too had to learn ignoring is the only way. 

I miss him so.  Yet oh, how I treasure the time we had.

I still have that precious music box.  For years I could hardly touch it.  Every now and then though I play it's sweet soft melody so dear to my heart.💕🎶

Oh my love, my darling

I've hungered for your touch

A long lonely time

And time goes by so slowly 

And time can do so much

Are you still mine

I need your love

I need your love

God speed your love to me

Lonely rivers flow to the sea to the sea

To the open arms of the sea

Lonely rivers sigh wait for me wait for me

I'll be coming home wait for me

Oh my love, my darling

I've hungered for your touch

A long lonely time

And time goes by so slowly 

And time can do so much

Are you still mine

I need your love

I need your love

God speed your love to me

Adelaide's Rover Song...

THIS...has been one of MY life defining songs for decades because I was born with the spirit to wander.  And horses and theatre set me free to wander, free to hope, free to soar, free to love and be loved.

I have been a rover,

I have walked alone,

Gone a hundred highways,

Never found a home,

Still and all I'm happy,

The reason is you see,

[Many] times along the way

Love's [been and is] good to me.

                     Rod McKuen

Because, I showed up...

How can I become outgoing like you are?"

Oh my, I cannot begin to tell the many times I have 

been asked this, especially after I began doing speaking engagements.  

The more I became sought after by those seeking to have what they saw in me, I realized how much my horrendous childhood had actually necessitated in me the need to reach out for what I was not getting, like love and acceptance.  So from the age of three I was already making friends by not only finding in others what so sadly was missing from my parents, but having a gift for also being the kind of fun loving inspired kid/adult others enjoyed being around...wanted to be around.  

Once a lady approached me after a talk I gave to a Women's Group.  She was a Social Worker and had a client who happened to be a Little Person.  Her client, much older than me still lived with her parents, never learned to drive, and never went anywhere unless with her parents.  Her parents were so overprotective she became imprisoned.  The Social Worker hoped if she and her parents could meet and talk with me this could be a catalyst of change.  When the Social Worker told her about me she became very excited to meet me.  

Sadly though, we never got to meet.  Fear.  The parents were horrified their daughter would even THINK to entertain thoughts of leaving.  They refused to let her ever see the Social Worker again, convincing the Little Person she HAD to be protected by them.  

Though I never met her I often think about how paralyzed she was by the fear of her parents and her own fear robbing her of having a life and one devoid of friends.  Sadly she's not alone for there are other Little People and many non-height challenged people who also let fear and insecurity keep them from having a life too.  Many become crushed by bullying, ridicule, or not having what is perceived as being the perfect body.  I also find people forever take for granted the profound blessings they have right in their very grasp with just being able to see, hear, walk, talk, smile, laugh, think, love, hug, and reach a shelf higher than a five year old is able to reach.  

Often after I have encouraged people to become aware of what they do have in their grasp this plants a seed of courage.  When that seed of courage grows it opens the door holding them back. 

I am so grateful for my innate determination and courage always enabling me to rise above the terrible circumstances I grew up with besides the many physical ones.  The very sorrow of these became my fight...my very reason to latch onto the far greater joy found in the gift of friends and being able to live one hell of an amazing life.  

How?  

I always put myself out there and show up.  I plunge in with my courage...spunk...and sense of humour.  And I always have the joy in discovering others I am so damn grateful to be on this journey with.

Like the ways I have shared here of how my Theatre, artists, writers, and horse friends all amazingly find each other, even on Social Media. 

In fact a dear friend in the U.K. and I were DM-ing about this gift of wonder just the other day.  For decades I have had close ties with the U.K. anyway.  So on Social Media is a interesting U.K. group pertaining to old postcards people in the U.K. sent each other, usually while traveling.  Then those of us in the group come up with hilarious responses to, or a continuation of what was written.  It's fun, and at times has been a very sweet diversion for unfolding events in this crazy world.  

Anyway, my friend and I began commenting on each others' expertise in the hilarious postcard responses we were coming up with.  Then we followed each other.  As I tend to be outgoing this soon began the ripple effect for discovering more amazing new friends I have also come to hold dear and am very grateful for.  Though 

we all may never meet in person and are separated by distance, our bonds of friendship are as deep and cherished as any I have known through the years.  All  because my friends and I showed up and put ourselves out there.    

Remember my blog on aplomb?  I described a beautiful scene which happened in busy Aisle Ten one day...

[In a city I once lived was a gentleman who was the official Santa, and he even looked just like Santa too, with a real white beard, red clothing, and spectacles.  

One day during the Christmas Season, I was in a busy grocery store shopping.  As I hurried around a corner up a crowded aisle I literally ran right smack into Santa.

For a moment we both just looked at each other in complete surprise.

Seizing the moment (there was a reason why I nailed an A in Acting 101 and am known for my courage), I blurted out, "Santa!  I know I should be with the other elves up North right now but there are things we REALLY need from this store!"

He jumped on it with me and replied, "Ho Ho Ho!  We've been so busy I understand my little one!  I had to come for Mrs. Claus.  She's making cookies.  Did the reindeer bring you too?"

"No, because they are all with you!  But I came our other way of getting around by using the magical snowmobile."

Back and forth we went.  You should have seen not 

only the faces of the kids in that aisle but all the adults too!  Everyone was just totally transfixed in sheer amazement and wonder, absolutely loving us to pieces!😃  

By seizing a moment with aplomb we gave a bunch of harried adults and tired kids a moment of sheer magic they will likely never forget.  Besides having fun doing it.  A beautiful touch of wonder moment in Aisle Ten.]

What I hadn't shared in the piece above is because of that one moment "Santa" asked if he could share what happened with a friend.  The friend was a newspaper reporter who wrote a piece entitled, "An Aisle Ten Moment Of Wonder."  This in turn touched lives since the piece detailed how this Little Person ran into Santa, seized a moment with aplomb and magic happened.

A family who witnessed the Aisle Ten magic that day got in touch with me.  We remained friends for many years.  Santa and I did too until his passing.

When we show up...when we have the courage to plunge forth and put ourselves out there, the bright wonder, the treasure, and joyful magic of friendship happens.💫