Run, Forest, Run!

I’m feeling like Forest Gump again. Not the quirky, happy, driven (by what?) Forest, but the haggard and tired Forest after his marathon run. And I’m experiencing how he must have felt when he simply quit running. You might recall he was out there in the middle of nowhere, with his groupies jogging behind him, and he just stopped. He was done. Finished. Over. And he went home.

When I signed up for the Stephen’s Forest CTR, I knew it was the week before Cowgirl Weekend and I would be in the saddle a lot for both rides. I wasn’t worried about it. I ride enough that I no longer get saddle sore. But I did come home with aching hands! What is up with that? Someone stopped in my office yesterday and shook my hand and I about dropped to my knees in pain! I certainly don’t ride with a death grip on the reins, nor do I ride in my horses’ mouths. Although someone hinted that I could be showing signs of arthritis (oh, please – I’m so not in that age group yet), I can only think they ache from tacking up a horse twice a day, throwing bales while camping, and carrying water buckets – all without gloves. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!  But I digress.....

I got home late Sunday afternoon and unloaded the horses.  Unpacked the trailer and even cleaned it. Caught up with what was going on in John and the boys’ lives. Read email, watched a little television with Case and headed to bed. And that was my only break!

I got up Monday morning headed to work before the sunrise, followed by McCain’s football game that evening. It was almost 10 o'clock when we got home. And just like Groundhog Day, same song different verse on Tuesday. Then once again today, out the door at the butt crack of dawn! I have literally not “seen” my horses since Sunday evening!

So back to Forest Gump. I am tired. I am done running. I quit. I just want to be home. In the daylight. I want to see my horses. I want to count my chickens (to see how many Bo may have feasted on while I was gone). I want Case to finish his homework before 9 o’clock at night. I’d like to spend more than 10 minutes with McCain. I’d like to be in bed before 10 o’clock.

Sleep, Forest, sleep.