Tag: Flash

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A Fuzzy Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2005 will forever be my favorite Valentine’s Day. But initially, it didn’t start out that well…

Twelve year old me had a horrible head cold that winter day, so I didn’t go to school. Sprawled on my bed, feeling miserable, I was surprised when my parents asked—rather insisted—that I go down to the barn with them to see Flash, the horse I was riding and taking care of.

Summer 2003

In 2003, my Mom’s tennis teammate, Joanna, owned and boarded Flash at the barn right near where I lived. I’d been visiting that barn since my earliest days, and when I was nine I started taking horse back riding lessons there. When Joanna heard that I loved horses and was an avid rider, she expressed her interest in leasing out Flash to me, as she wanted him exercised more often. My Dad and I considered this offer and decided it was the perfect deal: I’d be able to ride more outside of lessons, and gain valuable experience about caring for an equine.

Soon afterwards my Dad and I visited the barn to meet Flash for the first time. At the pasture adjacent to the barn office, we spotted him: gleaming chestnut coat, white blaze. He approached us and I gave him a treat. Looking into his soulful eyes, by far the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen in a horse, I was struck by his kind demeanor and patience. Dad and I approved.

Summer 2003: First encounter

The lease agreement dictated I ride on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On those days, I would go straight from school to the barn to tack up, ride and care for Flash. He was a patient teacher, always considerate. Together we made a great team, and it showed in the slew of first and second place ribbons we won at the local schooling shows; we dominated Advanced Western Equitation for a few summers. Flash may not have been officially “my” horse, but he certainly felt like it.

That particular Valentine’s Day, I wanted to see Flash, but I felt too wretched to go. But my parents kept pressing, so along I went. It was a sunny day, and a short walk–just 3/4 of a mile–but it felt longer, as my temples ached, and my stuffy nose throbbed. Upon approaching Flash’s pasture, I immediately saw him, wearing a bright red ribbon around his neck. How cute, was my bemused thought. We opened the gate and went inside, standing beside him as he greedily stuffed his face with hay. I stroked his neck and mane, admiring the fuzziness of his winter coat. I fed him some treats. Then my Dad handed me a red envelope addressed to me, “Leah Marie.” My parents had the biggest smiles on their faces as I opened the card, which had on its front a photo of a horse that looked like Flash.

How cute!

Inside the card read:

I chuckled, thinking again, Oh how cute. That was nice. Can I go home and sleep now? I smiled, replied, “Thank you guys, this all was very sweet.” My parents exchanged a look, then Mom resumed her gaze at me as she raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t you understand what it means? You know, ‘Be Mine’?”

I still wasn’t catching on. She paused for effect.

“Leah, ‘Be Mine,’ means that…Flash is now officially your horse.”

Valentine’s Day 2005

I nearly dropped the card onto the frozen February mud. Every cliché—jaw dropped, dumbstruck—applied to me that moment. Tears sprung to my eyes as I fully (and finally!) absorbed what I’d just heard. Flash: mine? I flung my arms around “Fuzzy” and gave him a big kiss, while exclaiming “Thank you!” a dozen times. I then gave Flash several more treats.

“Don’t just thank us. Thank Joanna,” my parents were quick to point out. They then explained that Joanna had decided to transfer ownership to us. She saw how happy Flash was with me, and vice-versa, and was assured he would be in good hands. I am forever grateful to her, and to my Mom and Dad; if it were not for their interest, support, and generosity, Flash would not have been part of my life. And that is unthinkable, now as I look back at the 15 wonderful years we had together. As I wrote in my eulogy for him, Flash is my childhood. And what a freakishly happy and fun childhood it was. A barn is a wonderful place to grow up, and horses the best mentors.

The rest of the day it was as if I had been miraculously cured of my cold. I felt so happy I was floating, a permanent smile on my face. I was already bursting to tell my friends the wonderful news. Back home, on the small dry erase board above my bed, I proclaimed in all caps:

FLASH IS NOW MINE!


He will forever be my best valentine. I love him, and I miss him. I wish he were still here. He is in my heart. Thank you Mom, Dad, and Joanna for the way you planned to reveal that news to me on none other than Valentine’s Day. Can’t be beat.

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day,

~LMC

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FLASH’S FINAL GIFT

Fuzzy, it’s been a year since your passing. I miss you. How time flies. Such a cliché. But so true. I remember that final day so clearly, so vividly, I remember what I was wearing. How I woke up that morning, my body feeling simultaneously heavy and light. How I stared back at my face in the bathroom mirror, skin pale, a drawn look. Me, rasping out at my own reflection, “God, give me the strength to see this day through.”

And the thing is…I did. For you see, Flash, your final, parting gift to me was PEACE. That morning I had prayed, kneeling in the grass while you ate your last meal, for strength, and for a sign that your spirit would be at peace; that you were going to be alright. I drank in the sight of you: a calm and content horse munching away, in our beloved little valley in the foothills. My first home and your final home. That last morning, I was so painfully and blessedly present, that every sense was heightened: vision brighter, scents sharper, sounds louder. When it was finally time, I chose not to watch; I did not want, nor need, to see the absolute end. I wanted to remember you standing. Happy. Ears alert. I did not want to see the literal, final, devastating result. I said my final words to you, wished you god speed, kissed you hard on your furry face. Tore myself away, started walking. Looked once, then twice over my shoulder. Saw the vet wielding the first syringe. Snapped my head back forward. Marched into the small barn office. Felt despair. Resignation. Then: lightness. A force pulling me upwards from the couch, and toward your pasture. And as I walked out into the sun light, I felt PEACE. And I knew you were ok. That your spirit was no longer part of your failing body. That the transition was and is of itself, peace.

Tears were still cascading, but were no longer of dread. No, the opposite in fact: serenity. Any and every synonym for the word peace: I felt this. You were free. I was alright. I was going to be ok. Of course I will always miss you. But I know you are in my soul. I felt it that morning. I feel it now.

Make of this what you will: religiosity, spiritual mumbo jumbo, a plain desperate yearning for relief. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Skeptic or believer, the absolute calm that I felt was real. I still feel it. Whether God/ Creator/ It/ Whoever heard me, or rather I found the strength within myself and answered my own prayer: it doesn’t matter. In the end, I attribute the peace I felt and forever feel to Flash. The love and friendship we shared: death does not that change that. I said so in my parting words to him. Death cannot take that away. The memories are mine forever. No one can take them. As is the tranquility I feel. I have no regrets regarding our final time together. That final summer lives on. As does your legacy of love and happiness and caring, my furry friend. And so Flash, my beloved Fuzzy, I say once again: THANK YOU. I miss you and I love you forever.

~LMC

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That Day in May…

Exactly a year ago today I was told by Flash’s vet that it was time to consider euthanasia.

Being the nostalgic, time/ date memorizer individual that I am (see my previous post “Nostalgia”), all I could think about today was what happened last year on this day…

It was a cold morning, snowing heavily. The vet was conducting a follow up examination. I’d been feeding Flash grain twice a day in the hopes of him gaining weight, but to no avail. It didn’t matter how much I gave him; he’d only put on a few pounds, but it was not enough. His ribs and hip bones were clearly visible, a far cry from the fat, sleek pony I’d grown up with.

It’s strange, how the human mind can almost selectively shut out, block, deflect, or anticipate bad news. I think I knew, deep down, what her assessment of my horse was going to be. But the mind stuffed it away, so I went about haltering Flash, and leading him into the indoor wash rack, to be out of the snow.

The vet took his off his blanket, and took one good long look. Flash, ever the people pony, loved his vet, and gently nudged her with his nose. She smiled, patted Flash and walked around him. “If you haven’t already fed him yet, go ahead and grab his feed and we’ll talk.”

I went to the grain storage room and filled up his flat bucket. I remember consciously stalling, deliberately taking longer than normal to fill the bucket. But even then, no clear, conscious thought came to my mind. But I felt dread brewing within my body.

Back in the barn, Flash set upon his food immediately, happily making a mess as he always did. A giant lump had taken residence in my throat.

The vet gave a sad smile, and put her hands in her jacket pockets. I don’t remember her exact words, but they were something like this: “Well, based on the frequency and amount you’re feeding Flash, he should be easily gaining, but he hasn’t. He looks about the same. So it’s time that we consider that option…the time to say goodbye, to have him avoid any pain or incidents.”

Already I felt like I was strangling; I knew damn well what she meant. “I-I know,” I croaked out, nodding as the tears, hot and fast, came streaming down my face. The vet then looked directly into my eyes, and I remember how much compassion and sadness I saw there.

“His condition…there hasn’t been any lack of trying on your part, not at all. You’ve done everything you can to help him, but in the end he’s not going to improve. And we don’t want him to get to the point where he’ll be so weak and helpless that something bad happens to him, and he can’t help himself. He’s just old, and there’s no cure for that.”

I could barely speak, I was crying so hard. My body was shaking. I could feel and hear the blood rushing through my ears and my head; my heart slammed against my chest.

“Flash may be 28, but in human years he’s 94. So he’s had a long, happy life and that’s what counts. And he deserves to go out with dignity and in peace.”

I was practically hyperventilating at this point. The vet’s assistant was trying her best not to cry, and kept her gaze on the floor, though she kept patting Flash on his neck.

“It doesn’t have to be today,” my vet said, gently taking me by the arm. I nodded, utterly relieved. I wanted—needed—time to say goodbye, to prepare myself.

“H-h-how m-much l-longer do I-I have?” I stuttered out. The vet looked me directly in the eye.

“No longer than two months.”

****

Two months. The rest of May, of course, then June, then July. July. That’s when…my mind whirled.

It’s truly bizarre, how we discussed Flash’s eventual death and means of it, as he contentedly munched away, oblivious.

“He may be physically declining, but his disposition is the same as ever. He looks happy to me…and he certainly hasn’t lost his appetite!” my vet exclaimed, and the three of us all managed a laugh.

“This is the way you want to remember him, as he is. No one wants to say goodbye, but one shouldn’t wait too long, for if something happens…that’s the last memory you’ll have.”

I agreed with everything the vet told me, and accepted it. It hurt, my heart throbbed, but I knew she was right. I’ve heard stories of people being angry or indignant when euthanasia is suggested by their vet. I didn’t feel any of those emotions at all. I just felt…tragic. Defeated.

Somehow, I’m surprised I even mentioned it then and there, but I asked about burial options. My voice was low and flat. The vet gave me three options, and estimates for each: pasture burial somewhere in eastern CO, cremation, or burial up in the mountains by Evergreen. I immediately noted she did not mention the highly upsetting option of rendering, which is basically when a horse’s corpse is used for pet food. Not that there’s any meat on my horse, was my dark, twisted thought. It didn’t hit me until later that rendering would be unfeasible anyway, given the chemicals used in euthanasia.

***

The follow-up lasted about a half hour. I noticed how, as we all talked, other riders ducked their heads whenever they passed us; they knew what we were talking about. I don’t blame them. No one wants to hear, much less stick around, listening about euthanasia. As any animal lover knows, you don’t want to ever have to think about it.

The vet gave me the biggest hug before she left. “In the time being, he can have absolutely whatever he wants. Spoil him rotten!” was her parting advice. I agreed wholeheartedly.

And last summer, that is exactly what I did.

***

Once the vet and her assistant had driven off, I let Flash finish the rest of his feed. I felt dazed, while sobs shook my body. I hugged him before I put him back in his pasture. I found it nearly impossible to leave him. I walked back home in the snow. I burst into tears again when I told my parents the news. My mom promptly started crying, and my dad looked grim. I told them exactly what the vet had said, and they sadly agreed too. Together, we vowed to make Flash’s last summer on earth the best. And I am so pleased to say that we accomplished that.

As summer approaches ever closer, I know I’m only going to become more nostalgic, which is completely normal. Last summer I spent every single day with Flash. For whole days I was at the barn. I miss that. I miss Flash. But as I’ve said before, I know he is at peace. I feel it in my very being. And this knowledge, along with writing, this will sustain me once July swings around. If you catch me gazing into space, a faraway look in my eyes…I’m thinking, seeing, my beloved horse.

~LMC

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New Year’s and Nostalgia

I am a nostalgic person. No doubt about it. You know you are when:

A: You have a beyond freakish tendency to memorize dates. Ask what happened on today or any given date, and I can recite what happened X amount of years ago, easy.

B: You keep track of time, ie; you always recall what happened 6 months ago, a year ago, etc. You see time in a linear fashion.

Yep. I hold memories, good and bad, close to me. I don’t need to physically write down important days or events; my mind does it all for me. This is equally amusing, irritating, and sometimes painful. The best memories of my life—time at the barn, road trips with dad, triumphant wins in tennis, college, etc.—I know the dates for. But painful and awkward times are easily retained too. A certain anniversary passes by, and I’m either aglow with warm and fuzzy memories, or silently brooding over a sad event.

Most often however, nostalgia I find as a comfort. So it comes as no surprise that I’m usually not a big fan of New Year’s: like a dear friend, I’m reluctant to say farewell to a happy or spectacular year. Why should I have to say goodbye to a particular timeframe in which I was happy, content with everything? A new year means says going goodbye, stepping into something new. New Year’s means change, which can be scary. When I was younger, New Year’s was my least favorite holiday.

This New Year’s Eve, however, is different. It’s been a challenging year to say the least, but 2017 certainly had it great moments. Chiaroscuro, the Italian art term for contrasts in lighting, light and dark: this year was it. I got to spend one last glorious summer with my boy, Flash, knowing all too well that I’d be, and was the one, to make that final decision to let him go. To choose the how and when and why of his means of passing. To arrange, while he was still alive, how and when he would be buried. To sign a contract stating that I understood the manner and date of burial.

So I’m more than ready for a new year. Bring it. Am I nostalgic for those last months I spent with Flash? God yes. Of course I am, and will forever be. But then again, I have a lifetime of happy “Fuzzy” memories, literally. I’ve always imagined that each cherished memory is like a precious, rare gemstone. My heart then, is studded with these “gems.” There’s a countless amount of “Flashy” gems. Tennis gems. Happy childhood, loving family gems. Call it cheesy or what have you, but that’s how I picture memories.

To conclude (what, is this an academic paper? Haha!), I say cheers to 2018. Let’s strike it rich with more gems. My nostalgia will never fade, but a new feeling of hope, or maybe just being…well, antsy, impatient, restless–for something new, some sort of change, pervades. Le tiemps viendra: the time will come.

~LMC

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CONFRONTING REALITY: VISITING THE BARN THE DAY OF

If you are wondering if I have been able to bring myself to the barn since Flash passed away (I still can’t bring myself to type that four letter word), the answer is yes. I went back the same day he was put to sleep. I never even thought I’d want to go back the same day, but I did. I needed to. Flash drew his last breath at approximately 9:17am; I went back around late afternoon, early evening. In the tidal wave of emotions accompanying the event, I’d left his feed bag and brushes from his last morning meal in the same spot we always fed him this summer, near his pasture gate. I figured no one would touch those things, but I wasn’t going to risk it. And like a magnet, I felt the equestrian center pulling me back. It honestly felt like a palpable current was tugging at me.

So I found myself walking the short distance down to the stables; it was as if my body, not my mind, was in control. I’d spent the majority of the hours after it happened pouring my soul out into his eulogy; it had to be perfect. And writing, it helped so much that day. I cannot stress enough how writing helped me heal, even on the very day of it all.

When I was done and I’d posted it on Facebook, I just had to go back. And as it is, where the euthanasia took place is right near where the walking path ends and where I step over a small fence marking barn property. Selecting this spot was a conscious decision; you don’t want someone unsuspecting to come upon euthanization, especially children. The barn manager and I talked beforehand and agreed this was the most discreet area to do it.

As I approached the fence, I felt caught in a world of “Before” and “After.” Before, I’d always crossed this fence on my way to see Flash, feed him, let him wander. Now, it was time to confront reality.

A few paces beyond the fence was where I had said “see you later” to my friend. I refused to say the word “goodbye” during my last talk with him. Gazing at the sandy ground, I could discern exactly where it had occurred.

I took a breath. Before I could stop myself, I sat on the very ground where Flash had taken his last breath, where his body had lain immediately once the euthanasia had done its swift job. I dug my fingers down into the scratchy earth, and began to cry. But I was quick to remind myself that Flash’s soul would not occupy this spot; he was elsewhere, everywhere. So in less than a minute, I was up and walking.

But I wasn’t just walking. My stride was purposeful, and I marched into the tack room. My locker was decorated with posters and flowers. My parents, cousin Nate, and Elizabeth and Madeline (who lovingly cared and rode Flash when I was away at school) had put these up that morning. I’d made two posters the night before, each with pictures of either Flash and I, or Madeline. One of these posters adorned my locker, the other was at the gate of Flash’s pasture.

I then walked over to Flash’s pasture, and immediately saw that a new horse had been put in. I’m not going to lie, I felt anger. It felt like Flash had just been…replaced. It was stupid, I know, but it hurt. And it didn’t help that this new horse was obnoxiously banging his hooves against the gate begging for attention.

Not only that, but the poster we’d taped to the fence was already on the ground, torn off by the wind, I guess. I did my best to dust it off, and re-taped it back on the fence. The flowers we’d left had also fallen over, so I re-arranged those too.

Ignoring the new horse, I walked to where Flash had had his last full meal. Bits of feed lay in the grass, and his brushes and hoof pick nearby. I’d cried as he ate that morning, knowing it was the last time I’d ever brush him, ever feed him, last everything. Once again, I just sat down, alternating between sadness and shock, but never agony. I FELT my boy’s spirit was, and is, at peace.

“Was it only just this morning?” I whispered softly, gazing at the foothills, where the morning sunlight had cast them into gold. In the late afternoon light, they were now a dark emerald green, and I marveled at how it could still be the same day. For five solid minutes, I was lost in my thoughts.

Some movement at the pasture gate caught my attention. Looking up, I saw Flash’s best friend, his pasture mate, a beautiful sorrel mare. The new horse was gone. The mare’s head hung low, so unlike her normal, bright expression. She looked, quite honestly, sad. As if she knew. I unlatched the gate and stepped in, and petted her silken mane and neck.

“Thank you for being a friend to my boy,” I told her. This whole summer, those two ponies often ate at the same feeder, and I often saw them standing together . Not once did I ever see them try to bite or kick each other. The mare was always happy to see me, and she was always content to hang out with Flash. I buried my face in her mane and hugged her tight, and didn’t let go for a few minutes. She stood still like a statue, the two of us mourning as I let myself cry. I am forever grateful for her kindness, and that moment we had together where we both acknowledged our loss.

~LMC

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WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM: VISITING FUZZY’S FINAL RESTING PLACE

Written the day after Flash’s passing…

Yesterday I went to visit my boy. He’s up in the mountains resting peacefully “where the buffalo roam.” This is not an exaggeration. A small herd of bison actually do live in the large meadow where he slumbers. Not only that, but three white buffalo, extremely rare creatures and a scared symbol for the plains Indians, are among those safeguarding the final resting places of Fuzzy and so many other beloved equines. Visiting this place brings me great comfort and peace. I couldn’t dream of a better place for my dear friend to be; it is so beautiful and serene. We do not know the exact spot where he rests, but using binoculars my parents and I scanned the field and found some spots that appear like freshly churned earth. There is one spot in particular by the lake that borders the fence that looks especially fresh. Right in front of us, the entire herd passed this spot on their way to drink and cool off in the water…I’d like to think this is the spot where Fuzzy sleeps…Regardless, his spirit now runs free amongst the buffalo.

~LMC

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FUZZY: A TRIBUTE

Keeping with the nouns that start with “r” theme, one of the descriptions of myself in this blog I use is “Rider” as in horseback rider. I love horses. They are a part of my life. I want to share this piece I wrote two months ago…

FLASH

“When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine…you know you are loved.” –John Lyons

Flash—Flashykins, FlashBash, Fuzzball, Super Flashy, most beloved, beautiful, kind Fuzzy—I love you, my sweet, furry chestnut boy. And I want to thank you. For everything. From the way you always trotted up to the gate whenever you saw me, to your patience and understanding as I learned to ride, to how you would always nudge me with your velvet nose, you were always there for me. When I say I had a ridiculously happy childhood, I’m not kidding. You’re one of the integral reasons why. I was 11 when I first met you, a bespectacled, gap-toothed kid. At 25, the glasses and the gap are gone, but my adoration and love for you remain constant as ever.

You had the kindest, most soulful and beautiful eyes of any horse I have ever seen. I mean it. Looking into your eyes felt like looking into your very soul. The bond we forged and will always have lives in the very core of my being, and is part of the legacy of your long and marvelous life. I remember winning our 1st blue ribbon together like it was yesterday. Your patience and compassion towards everyone, especially with young children, cannot be surpassed. I will always remember your days with Picnic with the Ponies, the way you would tenderly baby the kids you were carrying on your back. I can’t even begin to count how many people your kindness of heart and gentle spirit touched. You brought everyone together, from the most experienced horsemen to individuals who’d never been around horses, and made each and every one of us laugh and smile. Last night was a prime example of that.

I’ll miss seeing you waiting at the gate, so excited to see me that you’d be pacing around and tossing your head, like a little kid. I’ll miss being able to brush your coat which felt like suede, or braiding your mane and tail with Miss Madeline. I’ll miss leading you around the arena with a youngster aboard, showing them they have nothing to fear. I’ll miss slipping onto your back to ride the smoothest lope. I’ll miss riding in the warm summer rain. I’ll miss watching you toss hay into the air and knocking over your feed bucket, you were quite the messy eater! I’ll miss the way you always managed to slobber me with your nose, and the way you’d lick my hands and arms like a dog. There was no walking away from the barn with clean clothes, no sir! I’ll miss talking to you, how you’d direct one furry ear my way, hearing what I had to say with no judgement. And I’ll certainly miss the nighttime escapades we had at the barn these past weeks, watching you roam around the equestrian center, no lead rope needed, with Basil the barn cat and the Rascals (barn raccoon family) close by. It was peaceful to see you so happy just cruising around, day or night, stopping to say hi to whoever crossed your path. This last summer with you is a gift I will cherish forever. This, and so many other memories, will stay with me to my dying day.

To those who made Flash possible in our lives: thank you. Joanna: it is because of your kindness and generosity that Flash came into my life. You sure found a gem in Flash, an incredible and freakishly intelligent equine! I cannot thank you enough.

Dionne: you truly took my riding skills to the next level (and beyond) with your patience and dedication, and my memories of our riding lessons and Picnic with the Ponies summers with Flash will stay with me forever.

C. Family: Flash and my family are so lucky to know such a wonderful and loving family. It makes me so happy to know Flash became friends with and was looked after in his golden years by a compassionate girl, Madeline, and her equally kind mom, Elizabeth. Thank you for the care you lovingly spoiled my boy with; know he is very grateful in return.

And last, but certainly not least:

Mom, Dad: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. For everything. You made horses happen in my life, and I am forever grateful. Dad: thank you for helping me tack up Flash when I was too little to lift the saddle up, and for watching me ride. Mom: like Spencer said, you are “Flash’s Mom.” Knowing you had no background with horses, it was so incredible and special for me to see you bond with Flash. It is because of your guys’ continual support, encouragement, and love that we all have come to be blessed with knowing the friendly, beautiful, patient and kind spirit that is FLASH, our beloved FUZZY, which leads me to finally say:

We are all so honored for having known you Fuzzy. The happiness, joy, memories, and fun you brought to us all is your legacy, as is your pure heart and soul. You are and shall always be an integral part of my life and my very identity, Fuzzy. Eternal thanks and kisses, my friend. You shall forever be my bestest, furriest, fuzziest friend! As Elizabeth wrote, “I have known several horses in my life, but none as well or as deeply as you.” It is the same for me, also. You didn’t just teach me how to ride: you taught us all patience and kindness with your pure character, too. Run free in Heaven my friend, where there are no fences, no gates, no corrals, no pens: you are free to wander wherever you please and eat the sweetest grass. You are my childhood, and your spirit resides in my heart and soul forever. Thank you for 15 wonderful years together. I love you Fuzzy.

~LMC