Imperfection

     I skipped my lunch so I could leave work an hour early and head to the beach with Cindy and the horses.  It was a little cloudy when I left the office but still nice enough.  At the ranch I headed to the pasture to catch Autumn as a fog began to slither over the mountains.  By the time we got back to the barn the fog had suffocated any sight beyond six feet, dripping out doubt of whether or not our trip to the beach would happen.  No news was good enough to send Autumn and myself muddling our way to Cindy's house down the road.  Sure enough, there she was with the back of the trailer open with her horse Syria waiting inside for Autumn to join her.  Cindy and I just shrugged a "we'll see" look at each other and headed to the sea.
     The windshield wipers squeaked out a hint that this may be an abrupt, wet, walk on the beach.  When we pulled into the parking lot the fog lifted.  The fog stopped at the edge of the parking lot, not daring to cross over the sand.  We unloaded the girls and walked along the water's edge as shy blue colors peaked at us through the clouds.  Autumn insisted on walking in water deeper then my boots would cover, so I threw her lead rope over her back and let her follow her own song. 

 



     She flowed in and out of the water stopping once and a while to look back at me when she got out to where the waves were breaking.  She came out of the water towards me with a twinkle in her eyes. She splashed her mane into the wind and took off cantering and kicking down the beach.  Eventually she stopped and I eventually caught up to her. 


What took you so long?

       Looking quite pleased Autumn decided to walk with me over the reflected sky in the wash of the sea.  I became lost in the pleasure of not thinking when after a bit I noticed that I was walking alone again.  Behind me Autumn had stopped.  I called to her and she looked down and back up to me.  When I made it up to her she lowered her muzzle to the sand to a crushed up sand dollar.  I gave Autumn's halter a tug to get her moving again but she wouldn't budge. 

    Once again she pointed at the broken little thing on the ground and gave me one of those Autumn looks.

  I bent down and picked it up.  Sure it wasn't perfect but Autumn had chosen this little gift for me.  Standing there, on that gray day streaked with bewildering glimpses of blue above, as my merry injured horse splashed around in the sea and brought me a gift of a little broken sand dollar I saw the beauty and perfection in imperfection. 

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Copyright (c) Jacksonhillhorseygirl.com October 17, 2012