Lions and Tigers and a What?

     It was quiet as I rode Autumn out to the trails in the forest. 

Autumn's ears leading us into the forest.

The light had about another hour awake before it settled into darkness.  Autumn walked lazily in the peace of the evening until she heard a sound that froze her in place.  She raised her neck and pointed her ears into the trees.  It took me a few seconds before I heard it.  It started as a faint hum that growled into a squeal.  Then coming tearing out of the forest was a golf cart. 

This is not what came out of the woods.

The driver hit the gas or battery pedal or whatever makes that thing go as he headed towards us.  He had a shotgun or rifle or whatever you call a long gun hanging on his gun hook behind him and a small fire arm was strapped to his side.  He yelled out "I can't lose my momentum!"   I just smiled and waved.  Autumn relaxed and we continued our ride without any other interruptions.
    It didn't dawn on me that this was strange until I was talking to a friend about my ride.  I guess it's not normal for 99.999999% of horseback riders, or anyone for that matter, to encounter a speeding golf cart, flying out of the woods, at night with an armed driver.  For me it wasn't real shocking.  The driver was the ranch owner's brother.  He is a little classier then the rest of us and cruises around in a golf cart instead of a four wheeler.

Who needs a stinking four wheeler when you've got this puppy?

In the back of the woods there is a shooting range which is a fun spot to literally blow off some steam.  When he passed me, he was flooring it because after killing some time at the range he had three minutes to make it home to relieve the staff taking care of his infirmed mother.  So like I said, totally normal. 

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Copyright (c) 2014 Jacksonhillhorseygirl.com August 20, 2014



Dimes

    For two days I had been finding dimes all over the place.  I had found two dimes in the morning before I headed to the coffee shop.  A woman came out the café holding a drink in each hand.  She said that there was a dime on the ground and I should pick it up.  I picked it up and tossed it in the tip jar.  When I heard the coin clink into the jar I thought about how strange it was to find so many dimes lately. Then I thought about my Grandpa who had just passed away two days earlier all the way across the country in New York.  
    Grandpa was 96 when he passed away.  I do not think I can write about how important Grandpa was in my life.  He and Grandma never missed a tea party, horse show, graduation, surf contest, holiday, birthday, heart break...almost every great memory I have of growing up they were in it. 


The great Grandpa Houdini mystifying one of my birthday parties

     Grandpa always had a twinkle in his eye and a laugh to share except when he was bitching out some waiter or hotel clerk.  Loosing him at such an old age didn't bring me comfort.  I wanted him to live through my whole life so I would never have to lose him.
   The following week, when I was at work, I thought about all the dimes that had I found and wondered if it meant anything.  I decided to google it.  It turned out that there were pages of links related to finding dimes after someone very close to you passes away.  It was described as a paranormal phenomena that happens when a loved one passes.  It is thought that they are sending you a message from the other side.  There are personal stories, poems, religious discussions, books based on the phenomena and there is even a Facebook page about it.  I kicked myself for not saving all but two of dimes. 
     I called my Mom and sister, Katy, to tell them about the dimes from Grandpa.  They thought that was so cool.  I wished that I had three dimes so I could send them each one and we could all have one.  I had not found any dimes for a few days so I asked Grandpa to send me just one more.  Days passed and no dimes.  I decided that I would send the two dimes I had to Mom and Katy.  I was happy enough with having the magic of finding them.  That night, as I was getting ready for bed, I found one dime sitting right in the middle of my bedspread.  Thank you Grandpa.  I miss you and Grandma so much and love you even more.

Grandpa and me breaking it down!

 

Thanks for reading!  If you would like to get in touch with me or would like to be added to my mailing list please email me at Jackonhillhorseygirl@aol.com.

Copyright (c) 2014 Jacksonhillhorseygirl.com August 6, 2014