...sucked. I have tried to figure out some way in which June was okay. Yes, there was
this, and it was great. In general, however, June was not good for me, and not good for my writing.
Allergies happened. I was traumatized. Freaky people with the emotional equivalent of spastic colon detonated in my general vicinity. I was traumatized. Weirdos with bizarre tics ticked bizarrely at Dave. He was traumatized.
So, this past weekend we took it upon ourselves to arrange some fun times - a real palate cleanser for the besmirched soul, if you will. We took in the Canada Day fireworks in our town. They were lovely. We went to see a movie (Super 8, which was adequate but ultimately disappointing, but hey, we got to see a movie.)
All that was fine, but it wasn't as good as what we did on Sunday:
donkeys.
Oh my gosh donkeys.
The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada is 100 acres of pure magic in Puslinch, Ontario. The awesome people who run it take in donkeys who are about to be auctioned, who are suffering abuse, or whose owners can no longer care for them. They are open to the public on Wednesdays and Sundays. There are people there who will talk to you about donkeys, but basically, you can go into the barnyard area, grab a brush, and spend the afternoon petting and grooming and hanging out with donkeys.
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| Rosie wants to gently nudge your arm. |
I've hung out with horses a little bit. I guess I was under the impression that all equines are kind of skittish. (I know not all horses are, but I'm speaking relatively, here.) The donkeys at the sanctuary are super, super calm and patient. These are cool animals. They move slowly when they're around people. If they don't like what you're doing, they'll gradually ease away from you. Being around them is...soothing. A day later, Dave and I are both what we are now calling "donkey mellow" - that extreme form of relaxedness that is both happy and unflappable.
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| Sable is waiting for more brushing. |
Despite June, and because of donkeys, I am now looking forward to July.
7 comments:
Donkey mellow...I think I see a new story coming on for you.
Love horses. Can't say I've been around too many donkeys. How cool is that that someone started a refuge for them, though. :)
Here's to a better July.
Aw, donkeys are cute. People always think they're dumb but they're pretty smart. I wish I lived near the sanctuary.
I hope July is better. June stank this year.
I recommend getting to know donkeys, L.G. They are the tough, independent thinkers of the equine world.
I think they are pretty smart, JE. If you're ever in Southern Ontario, I highly recommend a visit to the Sanctuary.
I love donkeys! Funny though, there is only one donkey whose location I know for certain - he lives on the way down south at a roadhouse. He's a cutie :)
Sorry to hear you had a bad month, Elizabeth. You've got to chanel it all it to some fine horror.
I read your story in 'One Buck Horror' and I loved it.
June where did it go! Donkeys looking good there. Glad they added solace to your soul.
Here's to a better July!
I'm glad to hear that July has brought some good things into your life!
I don't think I've ever even thought much about the good side of donkeys. We tend to hear the side of horse people - or occasionally, the horses themselves - like Bree in 'The Horse and his Boy,' who didn't have a high opinion of donkeys.
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