The Gnawing Bite of Anticipation

It felt like a militant act of self care. Like cutting your hair really short or tossing out jeans for their inability to adapt to change. But those things are common to me. This was bigger. I found the life-altering drug that Mister and I needed. There is a puppy. She has a name. But … Read more

A Radical Act In The Midst of Uncertainty

I’m not the sort who wakes up in a cheesy rom-com. Even when I was young and my body parts were all in the normal place, I wasn’t rom-com material and I surely am not now. But somehow, there I was, blindly stumbling toward what the youngsters call a “meet-cute.” I was the last know, … Read more

Nipping at the Heels of Despair

My horse sister called to ask how I was. It wasn’t small talk. We tell each other the truth and it took a beat to answer. There were so many parts. “I’m exhausted,” I said. “It’s been such a hard year.” “Anna, it’s only April,” she said. And we both chuckled and quickly slid into … Read more

Can We Talk About Our Gray Mare Future?

I’ve been pondering two conversations about horses lately. They aren’t very cheerful and I always know, no matter what I write about, I’ll end up poking someone in the eye when I don’t mean to. But people are touchy about horses, I notice. The first conversation was several years ago, but I think of it … Read more

Travelblog: How I Stole Paris

I woke up introspective on my last full day in Paris. It’s the same way I wake up at home. I got ready to leave for the day and wrapped a scarf around my neck. I started doing that after my first Paris haircut forty years ago, and have been doing it ever since. Fashion … Read more

Resolutions and Horse Dreams

It’s the twilight zone between holidays, meandering like a long, slow-motion hangover. I have no idea what day it is and I’m staring at the horizon, pretending it’s staying light longer. I’m eating leftovers and watching old movies I’ve seen before. Social media is age-shaming celebrities for not looking like they did decades ago, as … Read more

Whoa. A Hands-Free Halt.

She’s an 18hh Thoroughbred-Shire cross. She’s 30 years old and her name is Thyme.  I’ll give you a minute to smile. Thyme lives in England but managed to get her rider to email me with a question. “Did you ever write a post on the halt?” he asks. “She will stop in the school, but … Read more

Cantankary: If Not Now, When?

Expecting New Year’s resolutions from me? Nope, I’m not the type. I am so thrilled to have survived another year that I’m holding on for all I’m worth. Not giving up anything. Running like the devil is on my tail. I even get windburn when I’m typing at the computer. That’s when it happened. Just … Read more

Photo Challenge: Reflecting

It’s the job of a hero to stand a strong wind, invincible against a dark sky, giving us pause to reflect on the sum of our inadequacies and hopes too precious to name. Could I be that strong, that resilient, with decades behind me and a dwindling future? She holds her ground, with steady eyes … Read more