Today is a special day. Exactly one year ago today, I brought Samba home. That is a day not to be forgotten...the excitement of getting a clean vet check on a horse you've already fallen in love with, loading onto your (or in my case, my trainer's) trailer, and settling your new horse into her new digs. What a great day that was.

Today also happens to be the three-year anniversary of the day my wonderful husband proposed marriage, while we were waiting for dessert at an Argentinian steakhouse in Aruba. There's another night I'll never forget. Now-hubby prefaced the big question with:

"So are you sure about "us"?"

For a split second, I thought he was going to break up with me. Imagine my relief when I answered in the affirmative, and he whipped out my gorgeous engagement ring! Whatever we ordered for dessert must have come and been consumed, but the only thing I remember is staring at that ring on my finger, hoping it represented the beginning of a wonderful lifetime full of happiness. Three years later and my hopes have been validated a thousand times over. I am so lucky to be married to my best friend!

Today is also the start of a four-day weekend, owing to Lincoln's Birthday today and President's Day on Monday. Say what you will about working for the government, but I sure do enjoy all the holidays I get!

If you read my last post, you know I've been fighting the doldrums, and haven't been able to ride my girl in a while. I figured the best way to spend the start of a long weekend, which also happened to be my Anniversary with Sammie, was to have a lesson. Meg was able to schedule us in the morning, and Sammie was on her best behavior for me as I groomed her. (Likely because of the hard work she'd put in this week...thanks Meg!) The lesson was even better. Samba was a good girl, and I was ever-so-relieved to realize I haven't forgotten how to ride! :) But the best part of it all was just getting that old feeling back, that this is my girl, and that today is just one in a series of what will be a lifetime of wonderful days.

How great to slide down out of the saddle, and hear that little voice in my head begging, in true Dickensian fashion:
"May I have some more, please?"

Like the day I brought Sammie home, or the night Bill proposed, today provided me with memories I will cherish. Mostly, I will keep today tucked in a special corner of my heart, and if I feel myself slipping back into gloom-and-doomville, I'll whip the memory out and remind myself that I am truly blessed.

From my blog: Green on Green