Eden

Yesterday morning I woke up in a funk. Well, I didn't exactly wake up in fresh funk, it was left over from the night before, when my husband and I were "discussing" the separation of domestic duties, among other things. Since he can't defend himself here, I will refrain from any details other than to say I have changed dramatically over the past 10 years, and my needs in life and a partner have changed as well. We have grown apart, and we need to decide where to go from here. We do love each other very much, but wonder if that's enough... I can not imagine my life without him in it. I also can't imagine going on the way things are now. There are other considerations going on timing-wise. We are not in a hurry to make any kind of permanent decision one way or the other, but the possibility is there...

So, I was now in "slept-on" funk, and my mind could NOT stop. Luckily, I had a riding date with my neighbor. We were supposed to meet there at 11, and I was ready very early, so arrived there early. On the drive, of course my mind raced with questions and possibilities of the future, and the very real fear of possibly having to start completely over....

Once I pulled into the parking and unloaded my mare, the beauty of the area and the warm sunshine brought me back to the moment. The next 40 minutes of pampering my horse, and letting her graze started easing the tension and stilling my mind. By the time my neighbor got there, I was at least in a positive emotional plane, and our ride began.

The trail we usually take had been expanded in the last year, and we took the long way around. On a regular day, it is a beautiful ride. On the 2nd of April, with a temp of 82, all of the ground a vivid green, and all the spring wildflowers blooming, it was spectacular. Our mounts were enjoying the ride as much as we were, and it was all about the moment.

About halfway around the loop, there is an out-and-back trail that goes past some old calcite mines and down into a bottom with a couple of creek crossings. My neighbor suggested we try it, she had been down there 4-5 years ago and said it was really pretty. After giving the horses a break, we started down this trail. It was downhill, and part of the trail very rocky. The horses were eager to descend into the shade, and we motored on down. After passing several large holes in the ground where the calcite was mined back in the day, we turned the corner and out of the side of a tree-covered hill, a gorge appeared. Everything was a vivid green, even the rock cliffs. The trail went right into this mini-gorge, the sides rising above us like a cathedral. A cathedral of rock, covered with lichen, and little white spring wildflowers.. words and pictures cannot describe it. We arrived at the bottom, with a couple of creek crossings with large deep pools visible near the crossing. My mare loves the water, and we paused to let her get about belly deep, and paw and splash and play for several minutes. Both of them were quite thirsty too so they drank up. There was a nice flat area there suitable for tying up the horses and having a little picnic, so we made plans to do this again. Down here in Eden, it was like the civilized world didn't even exist, framed in this cathedral of cliffs and trees and green, complete with babbling creek. The sense of peace was amazing and very soothing.

After enjoying this idyllic setting for awhile, it was time to truk back up the hill and continue our ride. As we left the gorge part and turned the corner, I turned around and watched the crease in the earth disappear behind us. A few feet further and it just looked like a regular wooded hill again. You would have never known it was there, unless you made the effort to go check it out.

What a metaphor that is for life! To try to be in the present, in the moment, and enjoy the peace of your surroundings. And if you make the effort, peace is there. You just have to look for it and take the chance of putting in the work to find it.

7 1/2 miles later, back at the parking lot, my worries from the night before and morning had evaporated. In fact, after about 10 minutes into the ride, they never even entered my mind again for the whole ride. For a few hours, all the rest of the world evaporated and it was only us, nature, and our horses. I am refreshed and at peace again.