Memory may be fictional because it gets distorted after the fact. This is a truism. And if we are truly living in the present, we are not at all memory dependent.

I myself take great joy in bringing happy memories back to mind, particularly those that are horse-related. Of course, I do have some sad memories; these center around the deaths of Siggi, Signy, and Tinni.

Lately I’ve been thinking that as far as the horses go, I’ve become memory dependent. Most of my thoughts, particularly about Raudi, are past memories. This is because I have not been riding with others, going to clinics, or doing agility. I’ve just been going for short

Crossing snow patch below Cumberland Pass with Mr Siggi

rides, on the same trails. I have, as I have said in other dispatches, had far less time to spend with them than I used to.

This is going to change. I did work today – and am foreseeing that having more space is going to make my job a lot easier. I’m done sorting and just have categorizing (of nonfiction) left to do. I’m not working tomorrow.

The absence of recent horse-related memories has been disconcerting. But this too is going to change. I’m not working tomorrow. On Wednesday, Pete and I are taking off and doing a seven-day trek with our three mares. We’re going to ride on trails off the Denali Highway. Ever diligent, Pete has been doing considerable research, and has located trails that appear to be rideable. I got our horse gear in order yesterday. Pete gathered together the camping gear and has gotten the people food in order. We dehydrated fruit over the winter, so we will have plenty on hand. Pete also purchased double compressed hay, so we’ll have this to feed to the horses on the trip. We still have some important things to do, some of which include checking out animal and human first aid kits and figuring out which horse boots belong to whom.

The horses and dogs are fit and ready to go. It’s been a long time since we’ve used our trailer; in fact, it’s been so long that moss is growing on it. I have been wondering if we ought not rent it out as an air b and b.

We’ve done this all so many times that it does seem routine.

Our neighbor Keith will tend to the goats and chickens and garden in our absence.

Pete’s been picking strawberries. Keith will, in our absence, get his share.

We’ll be left with memories after our trek. My hope is that we find easy to ride trails, ones that lead to sites with trees, so that we can easily highline our horses. I’d like to find a site with a picnic table and a cabin, but of course, I know this is not going to happen.

I have noticed that when I tell people travel tales, at first they are lengthy. But as time goes by, they become more compressed. This, I guess, is the nature of memory.

Next: 183. 7/4/23: Celebrating Independence