Christmas is'a Coming - RV-Dreams Community Forum

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Christmas is'a Coming

Roll Me Away · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey, Pieere. I think holidays hardly ever meet expectations or our memories. However, it's always been my personal "r" time, rest, recreation, re-creation, and re-organization of many things, especially the spiritual meanings of life. This season I am spending the first few weeks of December taking dressage lessons on a horse ranch, parked next to the barn, out close to the old Florida landscape. Then on to Central Florida to get small repairs on the coach. Personally, I can't live happily in the frantic milieu of shopping, ads, meaningless-to-me TV "specials" and would rather be writing, reading, and my nerd-self likes thinking.
After all, there's a lot of life left for you, and it helps to make a few plans, a "bucket list" , write a journal essay, email friends, phone calls, take photos of all the mundane things in your life, because the mundane, ordinary, and comforting things remain. Nookbooks are wonderful for getting through the holidays, and best of all, pets. I have dogs, and just watching them enjoy a good run or tuck into their dinner is good. Riding a beautiful horse at a gallop, wind in my face is a joy. Find something that makes you happy and do it. Leave "blue" behind, it's an energy vampire. Have a very joyful and meaningful Christmas, Pieere. We'll all probably be on line here right after the excitement wears off!
Roll Me Away...in a coach with all the pretty horses

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Now, I can think of nothing more comforting (other than God) than riding a horse. While it has been many a year since I rode on the farm, there is a rhythm in the gait of a horse that almost makes one slow down and ponder.

Galloping is exhilarating, but it requires the rider to constantly be alert for obstacles and routes that lack hazards. Riding along at a slow pace with a herd of cattle is slower, but one has to be alert to the possible, and likely, cow critter that decides to leave the herd.

The slow amble, allowing the horse to take the course it wants, leaves the rider with the joy of that rhythm and no immediate responsibilities.

Besides, when you talk to the horse, they never disgree.

We have a friend that teaches dressage. THAT is a style of horsemanship that astounds me. How a horse can sense such a small change in the stature, wrist movement, and possibly the mind of the rider, and react accordingly, is an absolute wonder.

Terry

Roll Me Away · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi, Terry and Jo. You're correct, it's comforting to be on a horse. I tend to romanticize (the adventure type) when I write, but when riding, one always has to consider where one is in relation to that huge animal. If you're in the wrong place and the horse throws his head back while being bridled, you can lose your teeth. I spent this weekend on a working ranch that has cutting horses, and watched some of the training for horse and rider. Spent my training time on getting back to the basics, posture, reining, just basics for riding in a western saddle on a cutting horse. No cows involved of course ...yet. It's the old Florida landscape, the little hammocks of cypress and pine, ancient mossy trees, that is so wonderfully regenerating, refreshing to the soul. It's way away from tourist stuff and strip malls and things foreign. The Calusa, Tomoka, and Seminole hunted here over the ages, this is Cracker country, named so for the cracking of the whips as the cattle ranchers drove the cattle. It's where one can still hear night birds, whip-poor-wills or nightjars at twilight, and the grunt of 'gators on the riverbanks in the mating season, wild hogs, and snakes. Comforting for memory, yet fierce and savage if one isn't careful. Campfire, coffee, biscuits and bacon in the morning.
Would love to know more about your friend who teaches dressage. I'm going to eventually look for other trainers to add to the total knowledge and skill. Do they have a website?

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Donnis,

Their website is related to horse racing, not dressage. I'll shoot you an e-mail after I consult with her to make sure she is still teaching dressage. Then, if she still is, I'll contact you.

Years ago, she was into the race track business with training the horses for racing, and after a stint of working at the same place we did for a salary, she went back to the racing.

While she was working for the salary, she rode dressage and Hunter/Jumper. While her main "business" is training for racing, the last I heard she does do dressage training on the side.

Terry

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

Merry Christmas, try not to just get through the Holidays, make them special even if you are alone. You will only experience one Christmas 2011 in your life time, don't just get through it, find a way to make it count....G

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

PIEERE,

Don't know where you'll be on Christmas day, but if staying at a campground, they may be having a Christmas dinner.

Check when you check in or even call ahead and check with the CG.

Don't hesidate to go to one of these dinners because everyone that we have been to, we have been welcomed with open arms.

If it's a pot-luck, head to the nearest grocery store or deli and get some salad or something to take.

You don't have to be alone on the Holidays. RVers are some of the greatest people and I'm sure they'll welcome you.

Happy Holidays,

Jim

Roll Me Away · RV-Dreams Family Member

Pieere, you might volunteer to help in a shelter for children, Salvation Army, or somewhere there are children who won't be feeling the "warmth of the season." In this area people were finding babies thrown in dumpsters, dropped at fire stations, and other places. I always wondered what these babies would be told when the get old enough to ask about parents, or where they were found. Will they feel like "garbage" or unloved? Will they get a present on Christmas or a birthday? Children's hospitals usually welcome someone to read children's stories to the little kids that cannot go home for Christmas or Hanukka or maybe just will not go home anytime soon or at all. Or maybe a "retirement" home for the elderly. Not cheerful places and staff is small on the holidays. My mom-in-law and I once volunteered at a rest home and found a man with no family and all he had was an old shirt and a broken pipe. We went out and bought him a new pipe, tobacco and a new shirt. I've never seen anyone so happy. Such a small thing to do, but then his needs were large in his very elderly life. He became our man until he passed on.
I hope you find someone to reach out to, some place to give your wonderful energy and care.
Keep us posted on your holiday and what you find.
Roll Me Away

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yesterday we were riding our bikes around Lake Jackson and stopped on our way back, we ate at the "Sunshine Grill" which is on the way back to the RV Park. As you know we are in Florida for the winter and they had Christmas music playing "It beginning to look a lot like Christmas" well it was about 80 degrees and we were wearing short and Tee's?? We will be returning to home base in Tennessee and I'm sure the Christmas sprit will be there... Happy Trails...

P.S. Pieere we have very good friends who are working at Amazon at Campbellsville, Ky but will be heading South in about 2 weeks. Chris and Dave.... they are full timing....

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you want to head for Eastern NC, I have 50amp service, water and we can probably figure out sewer if you need. My Wife is on call over the holiday (she is a hospice nurse) but come on, If its warm enough I'll throw a boat in the water...
PM me or post a message and I'll call or ??