My Kentucky Home...

[Photos are at the end of this blog.]

Here in the heart of the Kentucky Bluegrass horse country the miracle and delight of foaling season takes place each year, as it has here since the 1790's.  Foaling season begins in January and usually goes through May.  Everything is all about the horse here.  And everything abides by the rhythms of the seasons with the horses.  Almost anywhere in this region mostly outside of Lexington, there are endless farms and pastures with mares and their foals, then weanlings, yearlings, and stallions in all their many pastures.  Nothing is hurried for one cannot help but to be immersed in the equine rhythms.  During the summer months mares and foals can be seen quietly sleeping beneath the shade of trees.  The tranquility in itself is such a treasure, for this...is our separate peace here.  And this...is our Kentucky horse country.  How I hope you may enjoy this glimpse of my Kentucky home.

Many have heard of Mammoth Cave, the second largest cave system in the world.  Kentucky is sitting on a massive amount of limestone vastly rich in nutrients found in our grass and water.  And yes, we do have BLUEgrass.  You see, the limestone nutrients contribute to this effect.  Those nutrients are also why we are known as the Horse Capital Of The World too.🐎💥🐎

Kentucky became a state in 1792.  Daniel Boone's grave is not far from where I live.  But during the years before we became a state wherever people bet their horse could run faster than another's horse here and throughout New England, they soon discovered it was the horses from THIS region in Kentucky winning all the races.  People didn't know why back then so decided this region in Kentucky had something very magical in its' grass and water.💥🐎 

Actually, there IS magic in our grass and water because the "magic" was later confirmed to be the rich, high concentration of those nutrients in our grass, mostly calcium which helps create horses with magic.  But horse racing lovers in the 1790's and after didn't care what it was.  All they knew is there was something magical having an astounding effect on horses here.💥Rapidly horse showing and racing enthusiasts flocked to this region establishing farms.  And the rest is our proud history in the Bluegrass.  Some of these very farms are still in operation by the descendants of those who came to this region establishing their horse farms for the sake of raising Kentucky bred horses.

Colonel Matt Winn who owned what eventually became our iconic Churchill Downs in Louisville, began the Kentucky Derby.  The first Derby was in 1875 and is the oldest sporting event in the United States.  It has been running ever since on each first Saturday in May, except for two.  One time it was delayed until June as WWII ended.

The second time was in 2020.  Due to the virus, the Kentucky Derby had to be either cancelled altogether or moved, and a date was decided.  The Derby was held 

on 5 September 2020 without spectators.  Our two beloved sister races making up the historical Triple Crown races, The Preakness in Baltimore, Maryland, and The Belmont in New York, had to scramble with changes too.  The Belmont was held on 20 June, the Preakness on 5 October and both also held without spectators.

Here in the Bluegrass in Lexington, is another beautiful racetrack surrounded by horse farms...Keeneland, that is as historical as Churchill Downs.  This year, 2020, Keeneland was host of the world renown Breeder's Cup Classic in November...without spectators.

Not far from where I live is the very famous Kentucky Horse Park which began in the late 1970's.  I was actually a part of the team that helped to create some of its' logos back then which was a huge honor and fun too.  

Each year in April the prestigious world renown Rolex Three Day Event is held at the Horse Park.  Also the World Equestrian Events are too.  Of course the Rolex Three Day Event understandably had to be cancelled in 2020 besides all other activities.  So did the Spring and Fall Meets at Keeneland as well.😭

This is very touching:  many from around the world come here throughout the year, especially during foaling season just to visit our farms and all their favorite famous horses.  Obviously due to the virus 

trips planned for a year or more suddenly had to be cancelled.  Besides the farms had to close their gates to visitors anyway.  However, our amazing farm owners came together, and with the help of a wonderful organization here called Horse Country Tours, began doing live virtual tour visits of the many beloved farms here not only including all aspects of each farm but its history.  Our incredible Mill Ridge Farm here has been especially instrumental in doing this, touching deeply the many throughout the world who come here for the love of Kentucky horse country.  Dear Mill Ridge Farm personifies everything we treasure most here.  As with a number of our farms their history dates back into the 1800's and earlier.  Farms like Mill Ridge make me very proud to be a Kentuckian.  Anyone here interested in taking these virtual horse farm tours may access them via Horse Country Tours on Facebook.

Anyway, back to more tidbits about this place I proudly call home.  Another benefit discovered after Kentucky began due to the abundant limestone in our water, is our Kentucky Bourbon.  There are numerous historical distilleries throughout the region.  One is not far from me and if the wind is just right I can smell the mash being boiled which is a sweet smell.  About two years ago one of our distilleries lost a warehouse filled with bourbon whiskey as it was aging due to a huge fire.  After the fire I learned just how important our bourbon whiskey really is around the world even more than I realized.  I soon discovered I was getting more news and updates on what was happening regarding the loss of this warehouse on the BBC than our local news!  One thing the BBC did was speculate on how the loss of this warehouse could affect the amount of bourbon we produce.  The BBC then even focused on what our wildlife officials were doing about trying to save the fish in the river all the bourbon poured into!  There wasn't anything in the local news about THAT here!  Though fish were lost, our wildlife officials were actually able to avoid a huge loss of our catfish and carp industry, by neutralizing the effects of the bourbon in the river.  A fact I learned from the BBC in the U.K. providing all these updates for its listeners about this fire having an impact on our bourbon whiskey output!!!🤣

Another product Kentucky is very famous for, and also one benefiting from the limestone here too, is tobacco.  We are the leading state in tobacco.  And hemp too.😃

Not surprisingly we lead the world in horse sales too.

Kentucky is of course also famous for Kentucky Fried Chicken.  In my blog about the famous people I have met I wrote about my friendship with Colonel Harland Sanders himself and his wife Claudia, whose home was not far from the farm where I boarded some of my horses.  I used to join them for tea on their veranda.  They both were up in their eighties by then, and so dear and charming.  I am very grateful to have had that time visiting them at the Colonel's insistence when he discovered me on my horse one day.🐎🤠🐎

There are many more wonderful things about Kentucky, like Bluegrass Music, our theatres, and uniquely beautiful natural wonders.  Yet it is our equine culture I am most proud to be a part of.  Since so many famous horses reside here our evening news broadcasts often have news pieces featuring their births, fame, retiring here, and when they pass away.  When Secretariat was euthanized due to laminitis it was the only news here for days.  The same with Seattle Slew.  After the birth of American Pharoah's first two foals the world couldn't get enough of seeing these two as they each found their legs and stood for the first time, then nursed.

When Secretariat retired here arriving at Bluegrass Airport, local and national news teams were there with 
live news updates, even following the procession to Claiborne Horse Farm, and there as he stepped off the van.  Many years later it was the same thing for American Pharoah.  So many of our local television programs and commercials here are related to the horses and farms too.  And our state license plates are always with horses.

Back to foaling season.  Those making sure all goes well during the wee cold hours of winter/early spring in barns throughout the region during foaling season often have been doing their job for decades.  They all say the same thing too...that each foaling never loses its' wonder and magic, and they're right.  The miracle never ever ceases to amaze us here.😍💫

Then what a delight it is to see all the many playful 

foals trying out their legs in fields of bluegrass on a misty Kentucky morning!  Or when they encounter 

their first snowfall.  These joys and wonders never 

lose their magic. 

I have been blessed to live in many and travel in forty-seven other states and Canada, each with their very unique beauty and wonders.  Yet this, my dear ones, 

IS my beloved Horse Country Kentucky Home.😍🐎

                                  Kentucky Sunset

                                     Snow Soaring

                                     War Emblem 

                                      Winter Foal

Sunset In Kentucky 

                               The Soul Of A Horse 

                               Spring In Kentucky 

            Early Morning Bath At Keeneland Racetrack

Kentucky In Early Spring

Secretariat Soaring Without Wings

                             Playing In The Snow

    Waiting For The Miracle Of A Foal Born With Magic

Horse Country Road

Summer In Kentucky 

Engraving Of 1800's Bluegrass Scene

 

Mill Ridge Horse Farm

                          Snow Gallop In Kentucky 

                         Early Summer In Kentucky 

                          Peaceful Kentucky Sunset

                                      Curious Foal

                            Soaring With The Wind

                   The Beautiful Grave Of Man O War

      Man O War And His Longtime Groom Will Harbut

                Rolling Hills Of Kentucky Horse Farms 

                  Early Morning Fog Scene In Kentucky 

              Early Kentucky Spring Gallop To The Sun

                  Another Day Is Ending In Kentucky 

 

The Little Horse Who Could...

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 large 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 came in a close third.  

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

According to the Jockey Club he 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 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 on, have been extremely successful and sought after as well.  Additionally, 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. 

A Funny "Event" One Saturday...

[Ohhh my dear Readers...out of necessity I have needed to repost yesterday's and now today's humorous blogs in my hope of continuing to provide more fun and laughter for you through Christmas.  How we all need it!  Today's blog, ahem...cof...cof...cof...describes a farting situation (not me!) which unfolded one day.  Yesterday I gave you body odor.  Today farting.  Now I ask you, where else in a blog will you find THESE topics AND bovine bonking, equine bonking, horse shit, theatre hilarity, art, inspiration, courage, serendipity, and most of all, having fun?!!  I have learned a lot on my journey, but one very important thing I learned many decades ago is how laughter goes a long way in making life better.  Especially shared.  It is my sincere hope your lives are made brighter with laughter by the hilarity of my life I am delighted to be able to share with you during this holiday season unlike none we have ever known.💫]

In my blog, "My Time Spent In Prison," I wrote about my dear friend Nora of many years.  We both were powerful speakers.  We had been asked by the Warden of a women's prison to come speak and were such a hit with the women and the staff as well, we were asked to come back many times.

Apparently the Warden had been raving to his wife about us because one week Nora got a call from a lady inviting us to come talk.  Days later Nora called me.  "Oh shit, Adelaide!  I nearly forgot!  We have a speaking engagement at some women's group!"

"When?"

"Today, at 4pm."

"Today?!!  How long have you known this?!!"

"Uh, about two weeks."

"Nora!!!"🤪

Kentucky was in the midst of one of its' worse droughts in state history during that time.  Everything was dusty.  Especially my car since I was raising Patches from a tiny foal and had to feed him twice a day.  I had no choice but to keep two bales of hay in my car besides sacks of feed and all his other stuff.  With a dress, fancy shoes, and makeup in tow I rushed out to the farm to care for Patches and got ready while he ate.

As Nora and I were driving to the address given I heard rumblings coming from her body.  There is a beloved well known hamburger chain throughout the eastern and midwest States called White Castle.  The hamburgers are small, loaded with onions, cheap, and good.  Also open twenty-four hours a day.

"Nora, please tell me you haven't eaten at White Castle in the last twelve hours?"

"Adelaide, I ate at White Castle just before the sun came up this morning."

"NORA!  You know those cause you to have gas!  How many did you eat?"

"Uh, nine?  Ten?"🙃

"Nora, I have a bad feeling about this."🥴

We both did by the time we arrived at the address given.  This was not going to be just any little women's group.  We arrived at the main gate of a wealthy gated community with mansions.  HUGE mansions.  And we damn near didn't get in until Security verified with the Hostess we were who we said we were.  

"Oh shit, Nora!  Look at these mansions!"😱

So we arrive at the mansion belonging to a very wealthy CEO.  Valets were there to park cars.  You can imagine their faces when WE drove up in a VERY old dusty car filled with hay and horse feed.  Definitely NOT the kind of cars they were used to!

A nice butler dressed quite fancy then escorted us through many large rooms to the one where the wealthy ladies were.  Each room we passed through the carpet became deeper and were more ornate than the previous room.  Obviously the Hostess knew immediately who we were because an African American and a Little Person stood out from the rest a bit.🙄

"Oh dahlings, you must be Adelaide and Nora!"  

There were about fifty or sixty women dressed to the nines in furs, dresses, gloves, heels, and expensive jewelry.  A fancy table with tea, coffee, finger sandwiches, and cakes had been laid out.  Since I was not the one who ate a bunch of White Castles and hadn't eaten all day, I helped myself to a few things besides the much needed coffee.

The time came for us to speak.  I was first.  The kind butler had to bring me a chair to stand on so I could reach the podium and microphone.  As I spoke I noticed that Nora, who was seated to my left had begun to squirm rather uncomfortably.😱 

When I was done the women gave me a rousing applause.

Now it was Nora's turn.  Midway through her powerful story either the effects of riding in a car filled with hay or all the gallons of perfume these ladies used really hit her.  For suddenly she sneezed unleashing a chain reaction, because when she sneezed the loudest, longest, fart in hooman history escaped my dear friend.😳  Oh, it didn't end there either because she sneezed again and again and again with the exact same results each time.😱

By this time I was in my seat totally drowning in uncontrollable laughter with tears running down my face.🤣

Many ladies unable to endure the White Castle gas bombs exited to another room while maids opened windows and sprayed canisters of air freshener.  The kind butler said he never laughed so hard in his life showed us to a bathroom, as by then I was very close to peeing all over myself.  Thankfully Nora's "problem" had cleared up thanks to all the escaping gas bombs, you see.🥴

Are you clamoring to know what happened next?Well, because Nora was such a powerful speaker and many ladies had also experienced the White Castle gas bomb phenomenon too, they insisted she please continue.  In fact we were invited to several other mansions for more tea time talks later!😃

Only I made darn sure from then on Nora never ever had any White Castles on the same day we had been asked to speak any place!🤣

Adelaide's Excellent Tact...

We have all surely had these moments in our lives at one time or another and then if we haven't we must not be opening our mouths or signing with our hands very much.😂 

I am talking about those folding up with embarrassment moments and/or opening our mouths and inserting our foot moments.  And yes, yours truly has managed to have a few zingers along the way.😳  

Because the show must always go on even if the Scene Designer gets thrown into a hospital for a unexpected long period, the theatre I would be working for at such a time would very understandably need to hire a replacement to finish the season.  Then after I recovered from whatever surgery and long recovery, I had no choice but to find temporary work which was never a problem.  During those intervals I have helped veterans obtain their benefits, made signs for small businesses, did framing, worked for (in the offices of) horse farms or equine veterinarians, and finally, even worked for a architectural firm painting what a building would look like to give clients a visual rendering beyond the hard to visualize plans staring at them.🙂

So this particular open-mouth-insert-foot event happened when I was working at the architectural firm.

The somewhat small firm was owned by a dear husband-wife team employing approximately twenty-five men and two women, aside from the owners who were not there often.  

One day out of the blue the owners suddenly brought in a new Marketing Manager and wouldn't you know, it was their daughter in-law.  In the first place we didn't even have a Marketing Manager position to begin with.  Some of the guys were uncomfortable with this.  Soon we ALL were very uncomfortable.😱

Unfortunately you see, Ms. Donna brought along with her a problem which immediately began affecting us.  For dear Ms. Donna had a body odor issue.  An intense one.  While the rest of us dressed comfortably, aside from me who dressed like a hippie, Ms. Donna who was also extremely haughty, dressed quite impeccably.  She wore expensive business suits with matching high heels.  And she constantly worried about her appearance.  

One day when she needed a ride to pick her car up that had been worked on everyone suddenly had excuses as to why they just could not give her a ride...except me.  I got caught off guard.  So I had to give her a ride in my car which contained two bales of hay, horse feed, grooming supplies, bridles, lead shanks, halters.  Ms. Donna then worried and fretted to no end driving us crazy fearing she smelled.  Like a horse.  To the point she rushed home, changed business suits and immediately took the one she had on to the cleaners.  Believe me, we would have all been very grateful IF SHE DID SMELL LIKE A HORSE after riding in my car but alas, she didn't.  No way.🥴

Something drastic needed to be done.  Giving her perfume and fancy soaps on her birthday didn't work.  So all the guys, Miss Bailee, and I met after work one evening.  Right away the guys felt either Miss Bailee or I had to take this task on because we were of course, women you see.  

Then the conversation went like this...

"Adelaide, we think you should be the one."

"ME?!!  Why ME?!!"

"Because you're so cute and the owners really like you.  Besides you have something in common with her."💫

"I don't have A THING in common with her!"🙄

"You're near the same age, and she nearly pees her pants laughing like the rest of us when you tell your hilarious horse, dwarf, or theatre stories!  She never even smiles at any of us."😱

"So please do it for all of us, Adelaide!  PLEASE?!!  We'll EVEN buy you a whole month's worth of horse feed if you do this!  PUH-LEEZE?!!"

They got me on the horse feed.😂

As soon as there was no chance of rain in the forecast so we could be outdoors for my sake, I reluctantly asked if Ms. Donna would have lunch with me at the park.

"Sure.  But I'll drive myself if you don't mind and you must drive yourself!"

"No, I don't mind!  Not at all!"  

I wasn't about to tell the poor woman how badly she smelled if I didn't have my car with me!🙄

At the park as we were nearly done eating with 

Ms. Donna at one end of the long table and I waaay at 

the other I asked, "Ms. Donna, have you ever had concerns expressed where you previously worked about body odor?"🤫

"No, why?  Are YOU having a problem with body odor, Adelaide?"  [Sometimes people are terribly slow about grasping what one is saying no matter how clearly one expresses it]🙄

"HELL NO!!!  I uh...ahem...mean NO.  But didn't anyone ever express to you the fact YOU have a unpleasant smell?"😖

"Not exactly.  I never worked any place for very long.  I wear the best most expensive clothing yet people don't like me for some reason."🤪

"Uh, what do you mean by, 'Not exactly?'"🙃  

"Okay!  So I've been told I have body odor, can 

you believe that?!!  How rude people are!  After all, I take my clothes to the cleaners each week, and I bathe [once] every week too, so how could I possibly smell?!!"💥

"Ms. Donna, something is not working and there is no other way to try to put this...you really smell.  And you smell downright awful.  You must be a very lovely person but it is so difficult to be around you no one can find this out.  Miss Bailee is getting calls from those you visit to promote the firm begging to please not have you ever return."😱

"How dare you talk to me this way!  I don't believe you!"

"Ms. Donna, I'm trying to tell you in the nicest way possible you flat out stink to high heaven.  Worse than cow manure.  Even rotten eggs.  Probably not as bad as a skunk though..."🤣

"I've never been so insulted, you...you..."

"Midget?  You've got to admit..."  

"I'm calling my in-laws!"

"...at least I'm not a stinking midget!"💥

I really tried so hard to use my best tact.  I really did.  Yet I think it all fell apart when I mentioned the manure, rotten eggs, and skunk bit to her.🤫

Not surprisingly I received a call the next day from the owners who wanted me to come visit their home right away.😱  As I left my comrades in arms were preparing to revolt on my behalf.😃

I went to the mansion overlooking the river where the owners lived.

When they told me they were absolutely thrilled with me, I was speechless.🤣

The gist of it all was first, their beloved son blinded by love was immune to his wife's odor issue.  It was destroying the family.  They didn't know what to do.  Besides, the woman couldn't hold any jobs due to this "problem."

But the owners had explicit faith in their employees.👍 

After Ms. Donna lost yet another job they very sneakily created the "Marketing Manager" position as a way to put Ms. Donna in our midst hoping WE could somehow put things into motion for what THEY were too afraid of trying to do themselves.  So in effect I then became THEIR catalyst.💥 

As they listened to the very excellent "tact" I used to make Ms. Donna aware of the situation the owners couldn't stop laughing.  Gave me a huge raise!  Said they were going to give the rest one too.😃

"Uh, may I please make a phone call right away?😳  

I need to stop a revolt from happening..."🤣

The owners had a long talk with their son and daughter in-law who finally acknowledged she had a problem.  Somehow it all got resolved, she got a brand new job and the last I heard was still working at the same place after many years odor free.👏

Amazing.  And all because of the very excellent tact I used...😂💥

Hotwalking Adelaide...

HOTWALKING ADELAIDE?!!

Before anyone begins thinking hotwalking means "lady of the night," uh...NO.🤔  

Rather instead think horses...  

Back in the 1970's as I was finishing up my Theatre Scene Design program I suddenly found myself a bit detoured by my first spine surgery when I was at the age of nineteen.  Unfortunately complications during surgery necessitated my learning to walk again.  Yet true to my indomitable spirit I did, even inspiring a few others along the way too.

During this period since I had been unable to work I desperately needed income so I could finish school.  And keep my horse Selah.  I just had to find temporary work in the midst of all this near school.

At racetracks one can almost always find work and be paid each day too, by working as a hotwalker.  You see racehorses are exercised or worked each morning beginning around 3-4am.  Backstretch life comes alive early every day.

Usually while horses are being worked grooms and other staff are mucking out the empty stalls while each horse is out.  Grooms are also very busy saddling up each horse getting it ready too.

After a horse has been galloped it gets hot.  It must be walked to cool down which is when hotwalkers are needed year round.  It may first be sponged down a bit to remove sweat, then hotwalked for thirty minutes or longer.

Those without experience with horses never last long.

As I have touched on here before, a horse immediately knows if a hooman is inexperienced and it will always seize the moment to either escape or to show the hooman a thing or two.  Horses can be very good at this.

Obviously when I showed up at 3am one morning, Chuck was first shocked to meet someone shorter than jockeys are, then had concerns if I had any ability handling a horse.  I came prepared.  I brought a photo of me riding bareback as always at full gallop on Selah my horse.

Chuck told me later he still had concerns about my being able to handle young Thoroughbreds...that is until I was given my first one to hotwalk.  A feisty colt with only a leadrope.  

I am going to let dear Chuck, the best backstretch boss one could ever have tell you what happened next.

"'Dere I wuz watchin' Miz Adelaide cuz I wuz afeard dis job might jus be too much fer her an she shor enuf 

sho-ed me!  That dere colt lifted her right on up!  We rushed ovah dere.  Heah she wuz calmlay hangin' in thuh air holdin on to thuh haltere askin us tuh hand her thuh leadshank with thuh brass chain."

"So whut did ya do?"

"I han-ded her dat leadshank!  An do ya know whut?  While she wuz still hangin in thuh air she took dat chain, hooked it on thuh haltere neah thuh colts ear, den putz it in itz mouff den thru de othah side of itz haltere jus lak a pro an BAM!"

"Whut happened?!!"

"She had dat colt in her powah!  An she walked it!  Nevah had anothuh problum wif it!  Nevah saw enythang lak dis in all muh yeahs a doin' dis.  Dat laydah shor has thuh Magic, I tell yuh."

After that any reservations Chuck had about my being able to handle these horses were blown away.  He saw me handling them very gently, yet with a kind firm hand only as needed to help remind them I was in control.

One morning around 8am a man named Sherrod showed up seeking to hotwalk. 

Chuck told him, "Son, fuh one thang ya gotta sho up heah by 3:30am tuh do dis werk.  An ya sho caint come heah duh-ressed inna shirt an tie cuz dey will git 

ru-unned!  Why ya come duh-ressed lak dat heah?"

"Well why not?!!  How dirty can one get walking a horse?"

"Son, why is ya needin tuh werk heah?"

"Not that it's any of your business, I kind of got in trouble gambling and need money."

"Son, has ya eveh walked a horse befoe?"

"No, but if that midget and you black people can do this, I sure as hell can and I'll do it even better too!"

Instead of having Sherrod tossed out on that Chuck told him to go get a horse out of a stall and walk it over to where we were.  In that stall was a filly.  

Have I mentioned yet about the large carts loaded with manure from cleaning the stalls?  This one hadn't been taken to be emptied yet.  Some of it was quite fresh.

Sherrod barely got inside that horse's stall when it lunged at him riping a huge section out of his shirt with its' teeth.  Unfortunately for Sherrod, when he backed up to save his body from having the same fate as his shirt he fell backwards into the horse manure.  DEEP into the manure.

Lucas who was near, first closed the stall to keep the filly from getting out, then gave Sherrod a hand freeing himself from his stinking predicament.  It was terribly difficult to keep our composure even if he had it coming for being so rude.

Still we gave him clean towels to remove some of the manure.

A contrite Sherrod decided the job just wasn't for him, then even mumbled something about wishing us all well as he left.

Interestingly none of the rest of us ever had a problem with that horse.

I fit right in with the backstretch gang and so loved my time with them all.  Worked there for nearly two years as I finished school.  But the time came for me to do my theatre internship and begin my career.

The guys so would have loved it if I could have stayed but certainly understood why I needed to move on.

So your hotwalking Adelaide became Scene Designing Adelaide.

Another Hilarious Moment In Theatre...

Now and then a hilarious theatre malfunction would actually happen NOT on Opening Night but a few performances later, thankfully AFTER the critic gave glowing praise.  One of the nightmares an actor dreads most is when another actor misses their cue to come on stage or a tech malfunction keeps one from getting there.  Suddenly the lone actor or even an entire ensemble find themselves desperately trying to adlib

for what seems like an eternity [and often is] with a full House casting all their attention upon THEM.  Waiting, waiting, waiting.😱🎭

At the same theatre once again as the infamous "Gone With The Wind," and "The Phantom" I have recently shared, we were doing the musical "Wicked."  For those unfamiliar "Wicked" takes place in the Land Of Oz at a time before and after Dorothy dropped in by way of tornado.  It is told from the perspective of the Wicked Witch and Glinda The Good Witch.  The musical is about their struggles with each other and The Wizard before the Wicked Witch falls from grace forever.  Somehow the huge part where the Wicked Witch was melted in the movie classic "The Wizard Of Oz, " then returns was never clear to me how this got dealt with and I was too busy designing sets to get a further explanation.  But this minor detail has nothing to do with what I am about to share anyway...😂🎭

There is a HUGE GRANDIOSE MOMENT when Glinda in a "bubble" high above rear center stage descends in grand style to the stage.  The scene really is/was a very beautiful feat achieved in theatre craftsmanship.  Just beautiful. 

And it would have been VERY beautiful this particular performance if things went as planned.  But they didn't, otherwise I wouldn't have a hilarious event to share.😂

A few moments after Loralei starring as Glinda began descending the bubble stopped hanging high in the air.

Since Glinda was far beyond her entry platform she was trapped.

This situation now thrust the Ensemble Cast on the stage waiting for Glinda into a terrible place of "what the hell do we do NOW terror," which I can assure you is not a fun place to be.  However since this IS show business, Blake, a veteran actor began adlibbing as the tech crew desperately began trying to find what went so wrong.

With a desperate sense of very misplaced hope, the tech crew's presence way up high meant a miracle to Blake as he suddenly exclaimed to the ensemble, "Oh look!  Look!  Glinda is coming!"

Only she wasn't. 

"Look!  Look!  Glinda REALLY is coming everyone!  Do you see her?"

No one responded.

Because Glinda still wasn't coming yet.

"Wait!  It appears Glinda is stuck in Bubble Traffic!"

BUBBLE TRAFFIC?!!  FRIGGIN BUBBLE TRAFFIC?!!🤣

By this time we in the wings lost it.  We were dying in laughter we were trying hard to suppress.  But we weren't the ONLY ones for by now the audience began losing it too.  It was the "Bubble Traffic" reference you see.

What else could poor Blake do?!!

"Oh my there really is a LOT of Bubble Traffic today!"

Suddenly the tech crew were able to get Glinda's Bubble to descend more.  

Then it stopped again.  

She was still high above the stage yet now in full view of the audience.

"Oh dear, I think Glinda has had a Bubble Accident by a hit and run Bubble!  This must be why she is stopped!  She's waiting for The Oz Patrol to arrive!"

Blake knew he was sounding desperate even though the audience were rolling in laughter.  He made a brief dash to the opposite wing whispering way louder than what he thought, "What the hell are they doing up there?"

They were laughing too hard to respond.

Meanwhile in the bubble up high Loralei was beginning to wonder if they would ever free her.

Cried Blake up to Glinda, "Hang on Glinda!  The Oz Patrol has been detained in Munchkinland!  Someone stole the lollipops and you know how they are about their lollipops!"

Suddenly I had an inspiration and motioned for Blake to come.  He loved my suggestion and told the orchestra. Uh, that is when they could stop laughing.  Then he told the ensemble.

I wouldn't have told Blake what I did without having just learned the tech crew found the problem.

To the tune of "She'll Be Coming Around The Mountain When She Comes," the Ensemble would sing "She'll be descending down to the stage when she comes."

With Blake and the Ensemble singing this catchy tune to those words Blake encouraged the audience to join in too which they very enthusiastically did.

And then...AND THEN...true to the magic of theatre the Bubble began descending to rousing applause.

It was beautiful. 

All was now well in the Kingdom Of Theatre Magic.

At least until the next disaster.😂🎭

🎄Christmas Bits...🎄

We are very rapidly approaching what is likely to be one of the most subdued and sad holiday seasons for many around the world. 

I will be alone this Christmas however on Christmas morning I will have the pleasure of being able to have a hour tweet visit with fun dear friends mostly in the U.K.

Later in the day I will then get to have a Zoom visit with other very dear friends.  

From childhood on I learned how to be alone.  Even on holidays.  So with gratitude my glass is full even with the many losses I have endured.

Throughout my childhood filled with alcoholism, very fighting parents, and violence, most of my Christmases became spent with fear and tears.  I do not have very happy memories of Christmas as a child.  Though sad and painful then I have never let this keep me from having bright happy Christmases once I began living on my own at seventeen.

As an adult a few Christmases had to be spent in hospital.  One year was spent in a Intensive Care Unit following severe complications during a spine surgery two days earlier.  I wrote about this here recently.  

Christmas morning Dr. Mortara came anxious to see if I still had any movement in my legs.  Only a few toes on my right foot moved.  He began crying because this grieved him so.  I was grieving for HIM, grabbed his hand and told him I WOULD walk again.  He was so moved he cried more, but tears of gratitude to see my indomitable spirit was still so strong.  Those shared moments of compassion turned what could have been a terrible Christmas for us both into a very memorable touching one.  And I did eventually learn to walk again.

This likely will not surprise my dear readers to know how deeply I latched onto the song "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer" as a child.  It STILL strikes an emotional chord in me, but not as much as it did as a child.  

Though I knew Rudolph was not real he still opened a door showing me for the first time in my young life I was not alone in being ridiculed and shunned.  To be a child without normal parental acceptance, support, and reassurance, the discovery of Rudolph went deep.  It also instilled a hope in me too, because eventually in the song Rudolph finds acceptance at last.  Even admiration.  

Still somehow I sensed my being ridiculed and shunned would happen always yet I really believed there could come the day when the pain of this would no longer hurt me inside...that I could break free.  

With my determination and the help of my mentor friends, I did.  And haven't stopped soaring yet.

Not surprisingly though I have the 1964 stop motion classic of "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer," besides several ornaments, figurines, and even a cute stuffed 

Rudolph Aiden gave me.  So that little Reindeer still has a very special place in my heart.

Often other Christmases alone yet not alone were spent with my horses.  Quite often going for a exhilerating gallop in the snow.  A person with the soul of a horse who has a horse is never alone.  

And a person with the soul of a horse whose body is broken who was blessed to have horses five decades 

is never alone because they still keep me soaring.

Although many of my Christmas Days were alone this often was because friends were on the road to visit family.  Yet we would have a wonderful day of joy and love opening presents, eating, and having fun on Christmas Eve day, making very bright, happy, loving memories.  Or the day after.  Whenever we could.

Being such an outgoing kid I was always surrounded by friends.  When I was nine I presented my neighborhood friends with the idea of us caroling to each house one evening a day or two before Christmas Eve.  It became such a hit with the kids and the homes throughout the neighborhood we did this five years!  

Our caroling became an eagerly awaited event for all, especially at a time when carolers were no longer going around caroling anymore.  Besides we had a whole lot of fun doing it too.

We even rehearsed making sure we learned the words properly to all the well known carols and other well known songs.  Younger kids from the ages of five to nine were included too.  Often lots of snow was on the ground while snowing too, making the fun we had doing this even more magical.

Afterwards we would gather at someone's home for hot chocolate and cookies we had baked ourselves for this.  This was and is still a bright childhood memory of the season I have always held warmly in my grasp.

Absolutely my best Christmas Day ever was the one when Aiden insisted we ride our horses beyond the fields into the woods when there was deep snow on the ground making the ride more magical.  I had no idea of what was about to happen.

Suddenly Aiden dismounted Sierra in deep snow.  I had asked why he wanted to dismount in such deep snow.

He said, "This is why," then placed a ring on my finger asking me to marry him.  Of course I said, "Yes!"

What a bright Christmas moment that was!  And certainly one I will hold warmly in my grasp forever.

I have learned on this journey of mine Christmas and every day there is treasure if we seek it.  

Even when alone, on a horse, in ICU, or in a theatre, magic happens.  

As it did for one born with a red nose and a Little Person both finding the magic of acceptance too.