Inside me, it’s pre-boiling time. Small bubbles form, and a beehive of activity buzzes. Anticipation. Of returning home. Home that feels like a well-worn pair of slippers. Home that feels like snowflakes landing on your nose. Home, that’s a soul-touching, two-arm embrace from your favorite, non-creepy uncle.
I’m impressed that two things can be equally true: my certainty that our move to Georgia was the right one and the pride I feel returning to my first, true love for where I grew up and lived the majority of my life.
Living next to Dave’s brother is a major perk when travelling. Archie, bunny, and fish—all are in good hands, and with their recent greenhouse purchase, I’ll see if a few of my plants can bunk up there.
In other news, Evelyn rode Gatsby for the first time on Monday. He’s about 2 hands taller than Betsy and a much bouncier and powerful ride. We were told by his 16-year-old owner, Aubrey, that “he’s fancy,” having won a show as a 2-year-old (he’s 9 now), and to look up “Hunter and Pleasure” on YouTube to see what skills he’s been trained in.
The ease and strength of his pounce, even in the deep sand of the arena, gave me a wild shiver. That call from the wild spiked my adrenaline, turning every cell in my body to fire. When Aubrey encouraged, “You should ride him too,” my answer was a strong man bell dinging with a resounding yessssss.
And now pragmatic me, the one in charge, is at the helm. Between now and thirteen days from now there are things to do; things to pack, plants to put in the bathtub, and instructions on Bunny’s litter box.
Oh, and if you have never seen an image of a koala’s brain, please look it up.
Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 