Living at the Speed of Summer

             Happy Labor Day,

        The speed of light is no match for the speed of summer!  Ten weeks ago, July and August stretched out in front of me with endless potential.  And now, in what feels like a millisecond later, I am preparing myself for a new school year that will begin just hours from now.  Where did the summer go?  As I look back on it, I suddenly realize that the reason it went so quickly is because I lived it quickly, jam packed with incredible privileges and experiences.  
        A James Taylor concert in Syracuse helped celebrate the transition from planning lessons to riding lessons on the last day of school in June.  The next day, summer vacation was released from the starting gate and sent racing down the backstretch toward July and August.  On the way, the Adirondack Woodcraft campers arrived, and six of them found their way to Moose River Farm twice a week to learn about horses and to ride!  
        Hoofbeats in the Adirondacks loomed into sight a few weeks later with endless preparation and practice, particularly for the MRF Quadrille.  They arrived bleary eyed before 8:00 on many sunny mornings.  Their hard work and perseverance prevailed to produce a remarkable equestrian interpretation of the music from Grease!
       Hoofbeats in the Adirondacks, 2012 ,was held once again under perfect Adirondack weather conditions but, in a blink of an eye it was over and summer blazed on.  The MRF Riding Recital dazzled parents and other guests who came out to watch riders display their ever improving skills at the reins and in the saddle.
        All too soon, August shoved July out of the way and the Woodcraft campers closed out yet another season.  My local riders continued with lessons and progress for the next three weeks through endless sunshine and the occasional day of pesky flies.
        Believe it or not, I was able to squeeze in many non-horsey activities here and there providing a much needed break from mucking manure and managing 14 horses with 13 stalls.  Rod and I attended my niece, Emma's beautiful June wedding on Squam Lake in New Hampshire.  My brother, John and his two children, Katherine, (a horsey girl), and Ryan, (baseball), visited, as did my mother and her husband David.  
        In mid August, my friend Lisa and I attended k.d. Lang in concert at the Turning Stone Casino.  Her magnificent voice filled the room and our souls with inspiration.  (If I had her voice, I would sing, rather than talk!)
       On one of the last days of August, Rod and I joined 19,000 fans who came out to watch Bruce Springsteen perform at Vernon Downs.  What a show!
        In the last two weeks of my vacation, the horses have begun to look and act as if it is time for summer to reach the finish line, (otherwise known as Labor Day weekend), so that they can have a much needed vacation of their own.  Through hard work, they have given their all to every rider who has mounted them.  This need for rest is as obvious as the bright colors appearing at the tops of the trees; signals of change.  With a sigh of acceptance, I am now peeking into the weeks ahead where I see my new class of fifth graders ready to load into the starting gate at the beginning of the new school year. 
        On Tuesday morning I will tend to my horses before 6:30 a.m. By 7:15, I will be dressed for my profession for the first time in ten weeks.  The belt around my waste will tug at my mid section making me mourn my comfortable riding tights.  With coffee mug in hand I will walk passed the barn on my way to the car.  Echoes from this incredible summer will comfort me through out the day as I transition from riding instructor to teacher.  With each 'new year' task completed, the summer will slip further behind me until all of my expectations for the coming school year are in place.  And then, on Wed. morning, when my new students arrive for their first day of school, we will be off and running once again!!!!

Sandi, Welby, Joshua, Target, Easau, Tango, Zambi, Ben, Lowtchee, Spirit, Makia and many of the wonderful adults and children with whom I share Moose River Farm.  Lucky, Lucky me!!!!

Even if you don't listen to his music, you will LOVE his live show!