I got a call this morning that our neighbor’s horse died. I see this horse every day, all day as he lived in the pasture adjoining ours. I do recall seeing him yesterday, belly deep in grass while his longtime companion horse flirted over the fence with our geldings. So I was in a funk driving to the barn today to help my neighbor make the arrangements to render his old friend and to discuss what to do with his remaining horse who was upset and lonely. It would also be my job to try and figure out if this horse’s death might be caused by something enviromental that could affect the Square Peg herd.
Needless to say, I wasn’t in the best of moods driving to the ranch. The weather today is forecasted to possibly include thunderstorms and to be quite warm. Funky weather. The drive from my house to the ranch includes 12 miles on Hwy 1 straight up the coast. The view of the ocean is world class and I so often forget to look. But today, the sun peeked through heavy clouds and turned the Pescadero coast a brilliant deep blue and I was transfixed. As I continued north, my eye was caught by motion in the water and I turned to see a pod of dolphins playing in the surf not far from the shore.
I jerked my car across the highway into the north parking lot for the Pescadero State Beach. I parked and hopped out to watch the undulating play of the dolphins. I was exhilarated and calmed in exactly the same breath. I laughed out loud. For about five minutes, I didn’t think about anything but the ocean and the waves and the spectacular scene unfolding in front of me.
When I got back into the car, I had a different outlook on the world. I was focused on beauty and lovely surprises and the vastness of the life that is under the waves all the time, whether or not I choose to acknowledge it. I felt like the planet smiled gently on me and I did my best to receive her gift with gratitude and humility.
It was a great way to start the day.
If you have a minute, do what you can to help keep the State Parks open.