Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

How does the light seem to strike the mustangs just right, in the most lovely of ways?

Terra’s braids are getting long. When she grazes, she’s close to stepping on the longest one.

Today is the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You” was on the radio a few days ago, and it inspired this post. It’s still a pretty discordant world out there.

We can meet each other, not knowing each other, and maybe we don’t sit down to dinner together (yet), but we can give each other the space we need, the understanding and the respect to carry on.

Horses may not know love in the way humans understand it, but they certainly practice affection with each other, and they know the bonds of family (blood and/or otherwise) – which is key to their survival – and I absolutely believe they know and practice respect.

The very simplest thing I can say today is that the world needs more love. Is that too simplistic? So maybe our greatest gift is that we can and should show each other *respect*.

Certainly, hate can’t flourish in that environment.

*****

Where Were You

Where were you when the world stopped turnin’
That September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or workin’ on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin’ against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children, they lost their dear loved ones
Pray for the ones who don’t know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out with pride for the red, white, and blue
And the heroes who died just doin’ what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?

I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN, but I’m not sure I can tell you
The diff’rence in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turnin’
That September day?
Teachin’ a class full of innocent children
Or drivin’ down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty ’cause you’re a survivor?
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?

Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset for the first time in ages
And speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you’re watchin’
And turn on I Love Lucy reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Stand in line to give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?

I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN, but I’m not sure I can tell you
The diff’rence in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN, but I’m not sure I can tell you
The diff’rence in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

And the greatest is love
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turnin’
On that September day?

*****

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alan Jackson
Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Service and sacrifice.

Today, we honor those who died fighting for American freedoms.

Too many men and women, during too many generations, too many wars and conflicts.

We honor those who served and sacrificed, and we remember why. Here, especially, where we value freedom, we remember why.

Her grey is whiter, and her dapples are less widespread, but Miss Terra is looking as lovely as ever.

The band was up a steep ridge above us when I took this shot of Gaia. She was just far enough up the hill to catch the light from the low sun, setting her afire in a golden glow.

That light!

That gold!

That Winona!

The sun finally conquered the clouds by the time I made it out to Storm’s band. While some of the horses grazed a bit, others, like Gaia, napped in the dreamy sunshine.

I had to go up and over a small hill to get to the other side of her (the rest of the band was down to the right) so I wouldn’t disturb her. (You can see her still eyeing me, wondering what the heck I was up to.) Her mane had icicles in it from the snow of the night before, and I was trying to get a pic of it.

It never did work out as well as I’d planned because it was much too nice to stop there and sit on a low boulder – cleared of snow – and soak in the rays that the horses were enjoying!

Do you love that wild face?! Black-as-jet Raven still manages to shine with beauty. 🙂

Killian lagged behind his band because of another band nearby. Here, he’s taking a break from grazing to check on his band, downhill. The other band was uphill. I was on-hill, taking advantage of the gorgeous foreground … and awesome background.

Healthy, shiny, bay beautiful wild ponies. 🙂