Short Story/Poetry – Page 13

Tales from the Barn Boards – A Donkey’s Tail

May 29

A donkey became part of the herd a few weeks ago. A donkey! The horses keep a little distant and pull a frowny face when he gets too close. The first time Geo saw him, the regal thoroughbred gave a wide-eyed gawk. What is that! He backed up a bit and snorted in confusion. Perhaps it is those long elfin ears or the curly coat, but he doesn’t look like a horse, so where does he fit in to the field? The appeal is in those big round Charlie Brown eyes. His presence stirred the memory of a favorite travel book, “The Last of the Donkey Pilgrims” by Kevin O’ Hara. The Pittsfield Massachusetts native chronicled his journey round the coast of Ireland in 1979 with Missie, the donkey pulling the cart. The story spoke often of her personality and attitude. This donkey seems to dislike being left alone and can call up a storm with that bray if neglected in any way. What a holy fuss he can raise. Forget about key codes and motion detectors; get a donkey as a house guard. The earthy call can probably be heard all the way downtown.

Every equine no matter how large or small is born with a tiny magnet inside their heart. Some people tune into that energy and cannot resist the draw. A small ad for a horse rescue on social media gave perhaps a last chance to be around horses. Years ago, I made a quiet living working as a barn manager on a private farm. My skills were strong than, but, thirty years later, is it still possible to be around these magical creatures? Since February, Sunday morning and lately Wednesday evening, I volunteer at a local equine rescue. Strength and skill does comes back. Now I am even so brave as to start riding again.

The donkey is tender footed this Sunday in the pasture. Now that the warm weather has returned, he wears a fly mask especially made for donkeys covering over his ears and all the way down to his nose. The mesh makes it hard to see his eyes. I call it his Super Hero mask. What is his alter egos name? Narcisetto? Briccone? Forza! Seeing him so uncomfortable, I rubbed up my hands for a reiki session. One hand on the withers and one on the rump, I called in the energy from the earth below, sky above, all four directions and into the center we go. He stood passively and did not shake me off. I neglected to ask and that may be why he felt warm in my hands, but like a rock underneath. He was heavy. His energy was not involved. I made a picture image of golden rays of light beaming through his legs and sending the pain into the earth. I got the idea to shake him a bit and still he did not stop me. Horses give back energy right away. This little body will take some time to understand.

This went on for a few minutes. I asked him to signal he was getting something and he gave the nose to the arm saying yes. When he moved out from under me, I let him go. I took out a bottle of an aromatic oil labeled joy. At first, he tried to eat the vial. However, a rub of it on the hands and on him did get a reaction. There is an Italian expression, qui casca l ‘asino – which means here’s the rub and he did. I am not sure if it was affection or he thought I was a handy post but kept rubbing his head up and down. Push, push, rub up and down Frances. Good grief, he was animated, but did he feel better? He was not disconnected and that is a start 🙂 Rub, rub, rub my Frances, rub my nose, rub my nose.

May 30

The donkey has a condition called white line of the foot. There is a white line where the outside hoof wall meets the sole of the foot. If it separates, bacteria can grow inside and further damage the structure. It is a painful condition. A topical treatment can be applied to the bottom of his hoof, if he will allow it. A rare free Monday, I went in for morning chores and to connect. He said no to the reiki at first, walking out from under the hands when offered. Later in the morning, he accepted a short reiki and allowed one hoof to be treated. I tried to lift the other front hoof but could not get him to shift his weight to the other leg. Plus, he kept snapping his teeth toward me. I had to give up after a while. Donkeys are heavy when they lean over on you. The skies cleared and I lead him out to pasture. He still limped. But, the rains softened up the earth and gave hopefully a less painful step. He started to lean on me with his head half way to the gate. I merely steered us into the field. He communicates in his own way. The impression was he has a physical problem and is a little lost what to do. He would cooperate but it hurts too much. He cannot understand the treatment leads to healthy hooves. If I could distract him for a few minutes, than I did my job, he forgot about his pain for a moment.

A donkey’s tale to be continued.

Here is a link to a webpage for Kevin O’Hara that includes video of he and Missie on the road during their travels around the coast of Ireland.

The Blue Bell by E Bronte

The Bluebell is the sweetest flower
That waves in summer air:
Its blossoms have the mightiest power
To soothe my spirit’s care.

There is a spell in purple heath
Too wildly, sadly dear;
The violet has a fragrant breath,
But fragrance will not cheer,

The trees are bare, the sun is cold,
And seldom, seldom seen;
The heavens have lost their zone of gold,
And earth her robe of green.

And ice upon the glancing stream
Has cast its sombre shade;
And distant hills and valleys seem
In frozen mist arrayed.

The Bluebell cannot charm me now,
The heath has lost its bloom;
The violets in the glen below,
They yield no sweet perfume.

But, though I mourn the sweet Bluebell,
‘Tis better far away;
I know how fast my tears would swell
To see it smile to-day.

For, oh! when chill the sunbeams fall
Adown that dreary sky,
And gild yon dank and darkened wall
With transient brilliancy;

How do I weep, how do I pine
For the time of flowers to come,
And turn me from that fading shine,
To mourn the fields of home!

by Emily Bronte

Vextroverts – Walking into walls

Beacon Hill lawmakers may need to amend the ban on texting while driving in Massachusetts to include the words “and walking.” A common site on the street now is a person walking along with eyes focused on a smart phone. No stopping, no looking, no thinking. They are called petextrians, smombies, iPhone idiots or clueless. Vextroverts are on the loose.

Psychologists have identified social interactive styles. Extraverts crave stimulation and recognition in the crowd. Introverts enjoy internal musing and quiet ways away from the crowd. Most of us are somewhere in between. Now we have a new distinct breed of human called: vextrovert – a person who only interacts with an electronic device wherever they may be to the vexation of everyone else. The age range tends toward the millennial realm. However, the other day during the morning commute, a preteen was in full petextrian mode while her feet carried her toward school. Whatever happened to teaching a child to look both ways before crossing a street?

Massachusetts Highway Safety Division is participating in the National Distracted Driving Enforcement Campaign: U Drive, U Text, U Pay. Police Departments will step up enforcement of this law from April 10 -15, 2016. Outdoor digital billboards will be used to educate the public. What about also stopping the fool on the street texting along bumping into people and immovable objects. A slow-moving, weaving person is a bore to be behind and worse when they step off the curb.

Critics can blame the device. Some blame the parents. A smart phone is designed to be user-friendly and fun. How often do we see a parent put the thing in the kids hand as a pacifier? “A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.” Douglas Adams

The situation is a serious public safety concern. Geoffrey A. Fowler writing in The Wall Street Journal says “…emergency room visits involving distracted pedestrians using cellphones were up 124% in 2014 from 2010 and up 10 fold from 2006.” The problem is not confined to the United States. Research at an Australia’s University of Queensland even measured the walking speed of regular pedestrians and petextrians. Road signs in Stockholm warn drivers about petextrians.

Naturalist Charles Darwin established the theory of natural selection. Species evolve and those changes in an organism that most benefit survival will be passed on to offspring. Vextroverts may be a short-lived aberration due to their habit of walking out in traffic while texting. Can’t we see the headline? Petextrian Run Over by Texting Driver. Would it be bizarre if the investigation revealed they were texting each other?