Pretty little horses

            I found out today it is once again the year of the horse, just like the year I was born.  Thinking of horses usually causes me to reflect on horseracing, but today, my thoughts went in a completely different direction and picked a song out of my memory… and gave me a day to reminisce about which is and always will be connected to that song. 

            The day began in a ridiculous way... ever have one of those days?  Someone asks you later how you day was and you wonder if you’ve bought enough vowels to describe it.  Back and forth, phone calls, I have to leave but he’s not home yet...

            The entire day at work seems to conspire to drag me through every “what would you do?” scenario from the bad training videos they show you upon hire.  Yeah, one of those kinds of days.  The kind where you can’t even sit down for lunch because you know you wouldn’t ever be able to force yourself to get back up.  

            Finally, I run in, he’s about to run out. Dinner?  You're asking me?  I need gas again.  Yeah, I heard you, I’m hungry too.  No, I'm tired, probably coming down with something. Possibly both… NO, I didn’t have time to eat lunch.  She won't eat?  Is she tired or just being stubborn?  I need to make her feel better.  How about a bath?  Yeah, that’s it.  Bath, then bed, and she won't hold still or calm down...

            I am drenched, my knees and back hurt, but his hurt worse. 

            I breathe for a moment... she's watching me.  Her bedtime music is playing, and I begin to sing the song.

hushabye, don't you cry, go to sleep my little baby...
when you wake, you shall have all the pretty little horses

            Blinking, quiet, where's the struggle now?  The aches in my own body become less noticeable, fade away.  I relax into the chair and watch her face.  I breathe again...

black and bay, dappled gray, coach with six white horses...
hushabye, don't you cry, go to sleep my little baby

            I remember as a child hearing my sister sing this song to another tiny little girl, one who is named for the welsh goddess of horses.  A little girl who is now much older.  Time goes too fast, and there seems to be no way to slow it down.  Drinking in the sight of an angel at rest, I am myself at peace.  Could this be the way to rescue time? 

            I love her... and in this moment, nothing else matters.  Top of Form