03/05/08, 11:01am…keeping the resolve…

March 5th, 11:01am: I’m sorry for the delay friends. I haven’t been feeling well and tried to lay and get some rest but that muscular pain inside makes any position really uncomfortable so here I am.

I got a very nice note from Dr. Carolyn Stull and UC-Davis on the “why” that I had originally put in simple, “Jeff” terms. (Remember, I was the ‘cowboy’ novice on a team that included lifelong horse owners and professionals) She wrote the email at the level Kathi understands things but it was a great note and very supportive of our efforts. We will be forever grateful to those who were willing to help – and take the heat for that help. Dr. Meagher is a wonderful vet and we appreciate her time immensely. Dr.  Meyer called not only to check on Windchill, but check on us to see how we were holding up. Dr. Stull from the University of California-Davis was invaluable in providing us resources regarding equine starvation, proper diet at various recovery stages, and the physiological effects of extreme starvation on a horse’s system. Anoka Equine Veterinary Services was very caring and stayed on 24/7 alert ready to accept Windchill and provide care, as well as the security he needed. They were also very gracious and understanding of our feelings and need to be near him had the care team decided to move him.

I’m experimenting with several blogging-type sites to see which will work for all of us to ‘talk’. Thanks for your suggestions folks – they’ve helped immensely. The tire place here in St. Paul called and said the tires are ready. Groan. Had to buy new rims as well, the old ones required tubes which apparently people don’t like to deal with anymore and I just gave up – I’d just like to get my trailer back without taking it apart and bringing it home in boxes or the backseat or something. Holy smokes did it take a long time to filter out the stupid spamming on the guestbook. Unbelievable. I think it’s clean again, hopefully.

By the way, for whatever it’s worth – Kathi and I and lots of others are going through the same grief that brings you back here. I know that people don’t understand. I know that there’s posts out there from the jaded, hardened masses along the lines of “he was just a horse, get over it.” I know that there’s suffering out there and I know that there are people that just get annoyed that ‘just a horse’ got some attention – they’d rather their newspaper be filled with what they’re used to – carnage, death, depression. They’re used to driving by the people on the road whose car is broke down without so much as making a cell call to help them. They’re used to walking by those who are needy. They can drive by a Salvation Army center and not think twice about the extra blankets they have sitting on their shelves unused, or the jackets they bought years ago that maybe someday they’ll wear so why donate them? You’re probably not going to be able to change their opinions – and it’s America, they do have their right to their opinion. It doesn’t necessarily make their opinion right or wrong, they just have the right to it. BUT…WE can choose not to listen to them. We can choose to be different and use our experience from Windchill’s loss as a chance to connect with people all over the country and in fact the world who feel that maybe – just maybe – some people working together that care can change things for the better a step at a time. Just like a 9 month old colt did – he walked his way into your heart, just like he did ours. So don’t let the naysayers get to you – believe me, we’ve heard plenty during this struggle. Heck, we’ve gotten it from organizations. It’s not going to change our resolve. I hope it doesn’t change yours either.