Bucket List

I may be overreacting, but last week's 60th birthday freaked me out.  It freaked me right onto a horse.  This morning around 9:15, a young, fit riding instructor rolled out half a staircase and stood by while the older, unfit rider struggled gamely first to lift her left foot the rest of the way in the stirrup and then to find the strength to actually swing the right leg over to sit.  There was no turning back: Carly took away the stairs.  There was no way down, except for the easy way.  She let me balance for a bit while I made friends with an attractive redhead, Thelma.

Thelma was quite patient with me.  She was content to follow her trainer while pretending I was steering. In time, Carly distanced herself slightly to let me ride at a walk around the ring, steer, start and stop. 

Then it was time to get off.  As worried as I had been about looking like a fool trying to get on the horse, it never occurred to me how I would get off.  Carly gave me great advice, but I froze, completely blanking my comprehension of simple words like "lean," "swing" and "slide."  The trainer called over a second person for my security.  Why, I wondered, would two people watching me do nothing be more comforting than one??????  But they convinced me hanging onto the saddle would ease my way back to earth.  As my feet led me slowly closer to the dirt, I watched in amazement as Thelma's back and saddle gradually got higher until I landed safely, eye level to the stirrup.  Damn, Thelma was TALL!  I hadn't noticed that from the portable staircase! 

So, bucket list item #1 accomplished. Carly had wanted me to ride a trot, but I declined. I intend to survive to try item #2.    I scheduled a second lesson for next week, though.  Maybe then.