I awake, splash water on my face, look in the mirror and see someone I used to know staring back at me.
I slide into my jeans, button my denim shirt and pull on my boots. I sit with my coffee, thinking of days gone by, and the task I must undertake today. Another cup of coffee, I put on my riding coat, then out the door to the blackness of a day not yet born.
I feed my horse, "SPIRIT", he eats as I brush him down, check his legs and hooves ..making sure the proper fit of his shoes. I place a blanket on him, he snorts shaking his head up and down, steam from his nostrils sending a message of the cold surroundings. His head shaking rhythmical tells me he is ready for today's task. I put a rope bridle on him, and finish saddling him and together we walk out to the still, dark day.
The stillness of this time is deafening, not even the sound of cricket in this pre-dawn moment, just the sound of boots and hooves as we walk along to the trail head. The world is black, no color or black variation, nothing to shape the area, just blackness. By memory I feel the stirrup surrounding my boot, I lift and am now one with the horse.
We walk slowly, forcing our way through the thick blackness, until the first hint of day arrives, black turns to gray, and slowly into a colorful world. The mountains form a background, drawing us to them like a beacon. The sky reluctantly gives way to blues and purples, clouds become white with golden highlights. The once black earth comes slowly into view, browns, greens golds.
We finally reach the meadow, standing as one we watch as the mountains shadowy fingers grow until they stop, hesitating in front of us, and slowly withdraw with each passing minute giving themselves up for the dawning of the sun.
The sunrise has occurred and today's task begins. We turn westward,following the shadow of horse and rider. We stay on the new path, adjusting to keep the shrinking shadow directly in front of us, stopping from time to time to take in the sights around us, and listening to the sounds of natures songs. Birds are chirping, bees buzzing as they dance from flower to flower, an Eagle soars overhead and screeches his approval of all he can see. We watch the butterfly, and hear the growl of a nearby Puma, but Spirit does not react as he senses no danger from the beast.
When the sun has robbed our shadow, and hid it below us, I dismount, and release the lead on Spirit so he can graze from the abundance provided by nature herself, he nibbles quietly as I sit and watch the beautiful world of natural splendor.
The sun continues it march across the sky, then too should I, Spirit and I become one, walking towards the ever retreating sun, across the sky of blue. It's warmth has provided the earth with it's energy and life giving force, has taken the cold and warmed it to a comfortable level of warmth, energizing Spirit and I, and we continue to follow the golden orb with shadows growing longer behind us, as if retreating to wait for the 'morrow.
Our journey takes across, desert, stream, hills and valleys, we see Deer, Eagle and Crow, see the footprint left by the big Bear, and smaller tracks of the beautiful Cat. We grow more tired as the sun keeps it's relentless pace across the sky, but know that we cannot stop, for we have a task to do.
The sky begins to turn from blues to reds and yellows. It is time for us to stop. I dismount and unsaddle Spirit, removing the bridle he becomes naked again, he is free to wander the beauty and bounty of nature. I again sit on the ground, and watch as the sun slowly fades into beautiful golds, reds and yellows, the sun in a wink finally dips below the horizon, and with it takes away the day.
My task for the day is completed, I have become one with the world, setting my spirit free, have seen the beauty of the world and allowed my self the time to embrace this day. Tired, I lay down, pulling my hat down across my face and thrill at the sounds of the first crickets of the night, and listen to the new sounds of nature, slowly, and peacefully I fall to sleep, resting for tomorrow, I have a task to do.
Merry Meet