The Horse Girl

Our family moved around like gypsies for years. It seems like job changes came on a regular three-year cycle. I occasionally wondered if the frequent relocations benefitted or harmed the kids' social psyches.

Anyway, one of the moves was to Fallston, a small town in NE Maryland. My daughter Jane, KarenKool's older sister, was in Paradise when she got her first horse. One day, my BBB while dredging through the Saturday paper for weekend yard sales, came upon an add, "Horse for Sale - $100". Well, guess what? The next thing I knew - I was on my way with check in pocket - to a house about 10 miles away. I had no horse trailer, no saddle, no bridle - no nothing except a mission "Get a Horse" and get it home in one piece.

After finding the place, by the grace of God, meeting the older gentleman owner, paying the $100, and making friends with Kris, [the small - docile horse], who I think might have even been my age, I started back home on foot, with the rope bridle that Kris was tied up with when I found him. The return trek took all day. We arrived home at about sunset - but what joy there was in the Peele household. Jane soon learned to ride Kris and we acquired saddle and tack. She began riding English style - with all the garb and even competed in local shows. She was in her glory. About a year later, when she really became serious about riding and competing, a lady who really liked Kris, asked to take him and arranged for a trade up to a larger and younger horse. [Is horse trading like buying used cars?] Jane agreed and she became the owner of Patrick - who you'll see in a few lines down from here. BTW, the neighborhood girls all seemed to come up with horses of their own and a local 'horse-girl-gang' was formed. It got so bad that they would have brought their horses inside to sleep with them, if they could. I even think the girls sometimes sneeked out and slept in the barn with their steeds [sleepovers]. I do know they used every excuse possible to go to a nearby stream and wash down their horses and swim with them.

After a year or so, a rising storm started brewing. My next assignment was looming up in North Carolina and would be happening soon. It was going to be a heart breaker because Patrick wasn't going to be able come along with a family of eight. This was a disappointing time in Jane's life. But, I guess we all have to confront those bumps in our roads of life. All-in-all, she accepted it like a trooper and went on, although there was sadness for quite awhile.

Years later, Jane and Gary [her husband] bought horses and some property for pasture, where they now live in North Carolina. They kept them for a time, but later sold the horses and property and concentrated on other ventures.

Often, when we visit Jane we always see her English riding hat or some other piece of tack. It brings back good memories of a nice time, a great place to live and good friends. We occasionally talk about how nice it was to live in Maryland.

How to Catch a Mate

Back in '55, when I was Midshipman 3rd Class at the U.S. Naval Academy, I was released to return home from the [Monkery] for a 2-week Christmas leave, or vacation for you landlubbers. The institution had successfully reprogrammed my mind over a 1-1/2 year period, so that I didn't even remember who my main-squeeze was from high school - foot loose and fancy free. So, that left me without a date for New Year's Eve. Well, I groused around - looking for possibilities until my older brother's friend said to check out the hospital in the next town, where they had some red-hot student nurses. A high school buddy of mine was in the same predicament - so we called first to the Nurses Residence - then went to interview the candidates [you know - check 'em out]. He selected his favorite and I picked this young and cute little 'chicky'. She wasn't much over 16 years old - so I had to really behave myself. We really had a great time during the few days left at home, before returning to 'Boat College'. We promised to write to each other and stay in touch. We both lived very cloistered lives for the next couple of years-with occasional letters to each other. In fact, my mind was turned to other things - that is until I mysteriously received a box of choclate-chip cookies in the mail. Man!!!!- she rocked my boat..... The rest of the story will come at a later time.

The question that came to my mind though - was. Who do you think picked who?

My BBB and I have discussed this frequently over the past, almost 50 years. Today's her B'Day [she's catching up to me in age] and Karen Kool has featured her on her blog sidebar. We sure have such great kids!!

Can You Recall?

Today, I just got 72 years under my belt. I don't feel a day different! As I mused and reflected back on years past, wondering if I had made any sort of contribution to society, family and friends, I came upon a profound question. What's the first thing that I could ever remember in my lifetime? I tried the question out on my Beautiful Bride Betty [BBB] - she said, "I think it was when I was about three years old and got out of the house when my mother wasn't looking and started marching down the sidewalk toward town - stark naked." I, on the other hand, was much more conservative. I remember when I got on my tricycle one day at age three and pedalled it about a quarter-mile away to a store, on a street corner in town [my parents lived in Somerville, MA at the time]. This was maybe summertime in 1938. I do remember when I got found by my mother, I immediately informed her that I wasn't lost! Two other significant events around the same time that I can vaguely remember, include fooling around with my mother's sewing machine and running the sewing machine needle almost through my thumb. WOW, THAT HURT! Maybe that's why I remember it. The other event was the hurricane of September 21st of 1938. I can remember all kinds of stuff flying by the window.



You know, it's a funny thing - I can remember back to age three - but I sometimes when I get up from the computer to get something important in the kitchen - by the time I get there, I've forgotten what I went for.



What about you?

Ever Hug a Dolphin?

During the 'Ides of March' in 2002 - when each day had more darkness than light - and people's spirits were 'lower than a snakes belly' - and they weren't feelin' so good, my Beautiful Bride Betty and I decided to head South for a brief respite. Since we owned a timeshare in Orlando, we decided to take advantage of it - and hit Discovery Cove to 'Swim with the Dolphins'.

The event was pricey - but well worth it. If you haven't done it - Here's the deal. Prearrange a swim time. Arrive on time at the Lobby. Pay your money, get photo'd, badged and directed to the Staging Area. Meet your coach - get your wetsuit, snorkel and watch an instructional movie. Your'e now ready to SWTD. This clip shows my BBB taking On The Job Training. After all of her team members completed training - it was time to Solo.

There she is - Hugging a Dolphin

After the excitement of this event, we enjoyed a Free Lunch, an afternoon of sunning and swimming and an evening of recalling the great time during the day and planning for another day of fun at Sea World.

Some unusual things happened.

After roaming the Park and seeing the shows, my BBB and I went over to the dolphin Tank to see what was happening. She decided to go over to the edge of the tank to get a closer look. One of the happy-faced guys swam over to her for a pet under its chin. Must have been some sort of connection there. Do you think BBB might have had the scent from the previous day's escapade?

But - that's not the end of it!

We went back to Sea World the next day - and of course, my BBB walked, like a zombie with her arms stretched out in front of her [just kidding], back over to the Dolphin area - and darned if another cuddly creature didn't swim up to her for a greeting or some affection. It was getting to be like Woo-Woo land.

A great time was had by all - and maybe we'll do it again some time.

What do you think?