I had a real crappy day today... one of those totally down, dragging my arse, why am I doing this, days that was ending with me comatose on the couch to tired to cook or eat or speak or breath...
Then the bloody phone rang and woke me!!! and it turned my day around!!!!
My Girlfriend Chissy from NZ phoned to let me know that a wonderful, beautiful, strong elderly woman who taught me and so many others the joy of Western Horse riding passed away last week from cancer.
Nana Jan, as she was know to one and all, was an inspiration to all who met her.
She was probably in he 70's now (if not more) and was all of 4 foot nothing tall and looked like a frail little thing but this woman was stronger than any 6 foot tall body builder!!!
She rode, cleaned, feed, trained and loved four huge Appaloosa and quarter horses. When she wasn't at home on her own farm tending to it all by herself since her hubby passed a few years back, she was driving around NZ to horse shows dragging a two horse float that she slept in. She was still competing in January of this year even though she had been battling cancer for a good few years now.
The took her coffin away from the service in her float and I know she would have loved that, Nana Jan will be missed by all who knew and loved her and she has yet again reminded me how strong we can all be when we want to be.... as she told me one day when I asked her how she managed by herself... Well Cathy, it really doesn't matter how cold, tired or hungry I am, the horses need me to feed them so I will feed them first!
Thank you Nana Jan for teaching me to focus on what must be done and just get up and do it!
And Thank you Chrissy, I sooooo needed your phone call and even though the news wasn't good news, we had a great time catching up and laughing about ourselves as we always do.... You cheered me up when I really needed it... I even managed to stagger to the kitchen and do the big cook up for tomorrow instead of falling back onto the sofa...
Bring on tomorrows training, I will work my arse off thanks to Nana Jan and Chrissy!
3 comments:
Sad to hear the news, I really hope this week is a better more refreshed one.
I nmyself grew up around horses, my first was a Appaloosa called bobby. Anyone who dedicates there lives to animals in my book are always good people to follow.
Take care. :)
Tiarna
What a wonderful thing to take Nana Jan away in a float.
And well done on drawing a positive from your sad news. Your doing great Cath, really great!!!!
I'm sure she would be so very proud of you.
xxxxxxx
Sorry for the loss of your friend, I bet she was smiling all the way in the back of her float.
I am so glad that you turned a negative crappy day into a positive in the end.
Hope you have a smashing week.
Em:)
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