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February 25, 2018: What’s Shaking

Woke up to sunshine this morning. The daylight is increasing (it seems) geometrically, as opposed to arithmetically. So the sun is up before we are, streaming in the windows when we get up. And it’s setting around 7:00 p.m. Good enough and getting better. The temperature early this morning was 0° F but by 11:00 a.m. it was in the teens.

I made my spring trip plans this morning. Originally I was going to head south for a few weeks in Mid-March, but I changed my travel time to April because I am going to the National BCHA meeting at the end of that month. No sense in making two trips. I will, before going to the conference in Spokane, head to California with my sister Eleanor. Now that she’s retired, she’s a



free bird. There are (I am sure) going to be more trips.

I have always felt like I was lucky to have El as a sister. And I have never, ever wavered in my belief that she is the best sister one could ever have. There have been times when relations between us were tense; however, if asked, I would even have said then that I loved her dearly and that hoped the issues would resolve themselves.

Being able to travel with her seems to me to be a gift that I don’t deserve. I mean, think about it, going with your best friend, just about anywhere. I do not know right now if she prefers vacationing in warm or cold climates. I suspect warm, but people, even those you know, can surprise you.

So on this really nice day, I facilitated movement awareness class. The two students, Carole and Rose, have made the body/mind connection and are making a lot of progress on their own. Today we played with tennis balls, did a variety of exercises. Then when I suggested we juggle, Carole showed Rose and me how to do this. My lack of coordination fascinates me. I felt like I was having an out of body experience as I attempting to get my timing down, and have one ball follow a second one into the air.

At the conclusion of the class, I said to them both that I have learned more from them than they have learned from me. And it’s true. For example, Carole talked about running backwards – this to me was revelatory. I am going to start doing it, and when I teach the BCHA class I am going to have those in attendance carry trays with balls on them and move in reverse. I am also going to have them walk and trot with the trays with the balls on them.

Returned home, Pete videoed me in the Playground, first with Hrimmi and then with Raudi. Once again, minimal trot going through the obstacles. I attribute this in part to the fact that it’s winter and they are putting their energy reserves into staying warm. One thing I did figure out this month is that the horses are less apt to get burned out if I practice the course, repeatedly, on my own first.

Now, presumably, more snow is on the way. Timing is good for us because we will not have much going on in the next few days.

Next: 57. 2/26/18: The Day in Photos: Morning Chores

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