Yes, this is what I’m doing, walking a tightrope. This is an excellent analogy. This could be why I am so intrigued with Phillippe Petit, who orchestrated and then walked between the Twin World Trade Center Towers. I’ve read everything he’s written, and every account about his venture, that I have been able to find.

And as I started to write this dispatch, the analogy jumped out at me. It loomed in front of me, very large, and yet I did not see it until now.

I have been walking on a tightrope for some time, attempting to maintain my balance. I’ve managed to do this thus far, but I fear falling off the rope. I am not on the rope between the Twin Trade towers. I’m crossing Niagara Falls. Down below the fast-flowing river is impossibly wide, and it’s noisy, very noisy.

I know that if I fall, I’ll be swept downstream and into the swirling waters. I’ll go over the falls. And I won’t be in a barrel.

I lean one way and then I lean the other way. I’m never straight.

I am attempting to balance my home and horse life and my work and book life. This is a balancing act of the utmost magnitude.

Sometimes, like now, I simply record what I’m doing, hoping that in doing this that I’ll also be problem solving.

I leaned to the left: Today, we got the bookcase in the Palmer Pool lobby and filled it with books. Everyone who worked there was enthused about this, as were the pool patrons, most of whom at 11:00 a.m. were little children and their mothers. Made me feel good.

I then went and did my distribution route. I also felt good about this.

And I dropped off Kid’s Kupboard sandwiches for Floyd, who told me that he wished they put more cheese in the sandwiches, adding that this filler tasted like paper. Pete later said that these were the true words of a dairy herdsman.

And I leaned to the right: I returned home, and together, Pete and I got Raudi and Tyra out. We did our trails. Raudi’s back was a little scabby – I brushed it vigorously. It was a great ride – could be spring or it could be that the horses are getting in better shape – but they were energetic. Raudi’s smooth, slow, collected canter was more like an outright gallop.

When we got back, I brought Tyra up into the upper quadrant. Pete heated up the Equimeasure pad in the oven, and we put it on Tyra’s back and molded it to her shape. Had to feel good, that heat. Now we have a form and the Synergist Saddle people, our friends, will make her a new saddle. Hrimmi’s old mold fit her just fine, so we didn’t have to order one then fit it to her.

So we are getting two new saddles. I will better be able to ride Hrimmi and Pete will better be able to ride Tyra when they arrive.

Tonight, leaned to the left: Worked on fundraising some, and on the strategic plan some.

Tomorrow I will begin the day by leaning to the right. Have a Foraker Group fund raising meeting.

Next: 63. 6/4/25: A Day Begins and a Day Ends