lalecl
12-17-2007, 04:28 AM
This years parade in Greenville turned out wonderful!
This year my costume was done BEFORE we left home.
This year I got to visit, eat, and laugh with some wonderful freinds.
This year promised to be more riders, more fun.
This year Ellis was going to ride for the first time.
We arrived at Bob and Grace's early. Our daughter in law Kristy was with us 8 1/2months pregnant but did not want me to leave her back here so she came along.
We walked in the house full of wonderful smells and bright Christmas decorations.
PasoMom and Lori arrived a bit later. We were starving but happily waited till they arrived and got settled so we could eat.
Afterwards we talked laughed treid on costumes, decorated parts of the stuff for the horses.
We also found a new freind and invited her to join our APF family. Her name is Mother Nature.
We all enjoyed Moose's company. I think he took a shine to Lori or visa versa. But he gave us all equal love.
The morning of the parade dawned clear with more wonderful smells. Bob and Grace make an awesome breakfast.
Time to leave. Bob left first. Then it was our turn and Grace and i stood aside giggling and watching PasoMom and Lori jockeying the whoppin truck and trailer into position to drive out.
Made it to the staging area and the excitement was mounting and such a joy to see so many had joined us this year. Rikki Hill and her family, Sally and her husband, the follks from Crawfordville, Lori, PasoMom and Mother Nature.
The sun was shining bright and clear. The parade started. Blessing was perky as always. Nothing new for him. As we crossed the tracks he did a sideways crowhop and is was so funny to hear the crowd gasp. I laughed and told them he is a paso so enjoy.
We did circles and figure eights the entire parade. There is a nursing /retirement home about 1 1/2 blocks beyond where the parade breaks up and we always ride down so the residents sitting on the front lawn can see the dancing horses.
From this point on things get sketchy.
I remember thinking Blessings gait was as smooth as ever and he deserved a treat after the parade.
I felt a sudden jolt in his step and i remember him goin up. I held on to the only thing available that my mind thought of the reins and yes i probably did pull too hard. He reared, i thought i was able to dismount the side.
The next thing I remember I was sitting in the street trying to lay my head on someones shaking knee thinking i had had the wind knocked out of me. I remember telling him to calm down and breath slowly and he replied he had just run a mile.
I Remember looking up and seeing the MOST BEAUTIFUL image in GOLD shining in the sun on a horse thinking I must be in heaven. I realised it was Lori glowing in the suns rays.
I do not recall most of the next 3o hours or so. I remember Ellis voice and touch, always there, my moms voice (why was she here?) I heard nurses talking about me, my nails, throwing up.
Later on I was told by Ellis and Sally that Blessing did well in the parade but reared at the end , He did not fall on me but as they said he twisted and fell beside me. He apparently hit my hand w/ his hoof and broke it when he got up.
I was told there were some ROTC kids from Perry High School who took care of me. They jumped into caring for a total stranger as our military cares for strangers in other countries. They called 911, brought a blanket for my head and supported me while Ellis caught a very frightened Blessing. I will be forever grateful to them. This says a lot for their leadership potential and caring for people. Emergency personell get paid for what they do. These boys offered of themselves expecting nothing in return from a total stranger.
Ellis tells me Sally got everyone in a circle to protect me from being crowded or trampled, I am grateful to her always.
Ellis says someone tried to make me lay down (in good shape I can't lay flat, I get dizzy and I am claustrophobic) I was told I shoved him and told him to lay down himself.
I am told with one good hand The EMTs could not strap me as I would untie as fast as they would strap.
I am told I was intubated and on life support for 5-6 hours. My son in law says they decided to remove the life support when i tried to talk, and bit my air hose so my O2 level went from 99% to 62% in 3 seconds flat.
Hey I am tough. The doctor told my family there was no riding or driving for me for 30 days becuase my head injury was so bad if I hit it again I may die.
I wanted to go home, see my family, see Blessing. When my eyes finally focused My entire family was there, kids, parents, all of them.
I want to thank Tim Day (a rider behind us) who offered a Ellis a total stranger his truck to go tot he hospital.
Thank Grace for taking him and staying hours with Ellis and supporting him.
Thank the ROTC boys, all the riders for protecting me. The emergency personell for being so close and making sure I do not remember my chopper ride.
I want to thank Sally, her husband, Rikki, her family, Candice Burger, PasoMom and Lori for all going back to Bob's and enjoying the rest of the day and supporting him because I know he was frantic. To all of you for keeping an eye on my daughter in law, I am sure she was upset as well.
Every year Bob and Grace Evans do Pasos on Parade. they have worked tirelessly, giving of themselves, opening their home, paying for food, trophies. They worked hard to make this a sanctioned ride for wonderful paso owners to be able to earn points riding in this parade. They promote the breed, publish the paper, support, promote all from their heart and love of the breed.
I owe Bob and Grace so much!! They both supported and encouraged me to write ( I am not a journalist) They open their home ( we have a permanant bed)
As for Blessing I want folks to understand this was not his fault! He is a special part of me. An extension of me when I ride. Since the accident I have been asked many questions.
No I cannot tell you what happened. He was gaiting great, there was a jolt and things started happening. After we got home Elis found a small hole in his chest. You figure it out.
Blessing has ridden this parade 5 years, He has done day parades, night parades, endless trail rides, both day and night, lights, bells, sirens. He has calmly walked past wild pigs during rides when i watched other horses rear and spook. Our neighbor drives a semi and has a deaf son. Upon leaving or arriving home he blos the horn so his son can feel the vibrations to know his dad his sayhing hello to him. He has ridden hiways, woods, swamps, sank up in a mire, ridden me when my ankle was broken, stretching as low as he could so I could mount or dismount. He has ridden with dogs running under his feet, he has ridden bareback as well as saddle. Never once giving me a problem. I am not saying he is perfect and does not make a mistake but SOMETHING happened. You figure it out.
I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW I SINCERELY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND THE HELP SOME HAVE SENT. i WILL PAY YOU BACK SOMEHOW SOME WAY.
On a nice note. My daughter delivered our 5th grandchild, a boy, she labored ALL of her labor here with me (she refused to leave me after the accident) the whole time using our hot tub. When she got to the hospital she was complete. They had enough time to settle her and she delivered Jakob Newt (after his great grandfather) 9 pounds 7 ounces 21 inches long 14 inch chest 14 1/2 head.
This year my costume was done BEFORE we left home.
This year I got to visit, eat, and laugh with some wonderful freinds.
This year promised to be more riders, more fun.
This year Ellis was going to ride for the first time.
We arrived at Bob and Grace's early. Our daughter in law Kristy was with us 8 1/2months pregnant but did not want me to leave her back here so she came along.
We walked in the house full of wonderful smells and bright Christmas decorations.
PasoMom and Lori arrived a bit later. We were starving but happily waited till they arrived and got settled so we could eat.
Afterwards we talked laughed treid on costumes, decorated parts of the stuff for the horses.
We also found a new freind and invited her to join our APF family. Her name is Mother Nature.
We all enjoyed Moose's company. I think he took a shine to Lori or visa versa. But he gave us all equal love.
The morning of the parade dawned clear with more wonderful smells. Bob and Grace make an awesome breakfast.
Time to leave. Bob left first. Then it was our turn and Grace and i stood aside giggling and watching PasoMom and Lori jockeying the whoppin truck and trailer into position to drive out.
Made it to the staging area and the excitement was mounting and such a joy to see so many had joined us this year. Rikki Hill and her family, Sally and her husband, the follks from Crawfordville, Lori, PasoMom and Mother Nature.
The sun was shining bright and clear. The parade started. Blessing was perky as always. Nothing new for him. As we crossed the tracks he did a sideways crowhop and is was so funny to hear the crowd gasp. I laughed and told them he is a paso so enjoy.
We did circles and figure eights the entire parade. There is a nursing /retirement home about 1 1/2 blocks beyond where the parade breaks up and we always ride down so the residents sitting on the front lawn can see the dancing horses.
From this point on things get sketchy.
I remember thinking Blessings gait was as smooth as ever and he deserved a treat after the parade.
I felt a sudden jolt in his step and i remember him goin up. I held on to the only thing available that my mind thought of the reins and yes i probably did pull too hard. He reared, i thought i was able to dismount the side.
The next thing I remember I was sitting in the street trying to lay my head on someones shaking knee thinking i had had the wind knocked out of me. I remember telling him to calm down and breath slowly and he replied he had just run a mile.
I Remember looking up and seeing the MOST BEAUTIFUL image in GOLD shining in the sun on a horse thinking I must be in heaven. I realised it was Lori glowing in the suns rays.
I do not recall most of the next 3o hours or so. I remember Ellis voice and touch, always there, my moms voice (why was she here?) I heard nurses talking about me, my nails, throwing up.
Later on I was told by Ellis and Sally that Blessing did well in the parade but reared at the end , He did not fall on me but as they said he twisted and fell beside me. He apparently hit my hand w/ his hoof and broke it when he got up.
I was told there were some ROTC kids from Perry High School who took care of me. They jumped into caring for a total stranger as our military cares for strangers in other countries. They called 911, brought a blanket for my head and supported me while Ellis caught a very frightened Blessing. I will be forever grateful to them. This says a lot for their leadership potential and caring for people. Emergency personell get paid for what they do. These boys offered of themselves expecting nothing in return from a total stranger.
Ellis tells me Sally got everyone in a circle to protect me from being crowded or trampled, I am grateful to her always.
Ellis says someone tried to make me lay down (in good shape I can't lay flat, I get dizzy and I am claustrophobic) I was told I shoved him and told him to lay down himself.
I am told with one good hand The EMTs could not strap me as I would untie as fast as they would strap.
I am told I was intubated and on life support for 5-6 hours. My son in law says they decided to remove the life support when i tried to talk, and bit my air hose so my O2 level went from 99% to 62% in 3 seconds flat.
Hey I am tough. The doctor told my family there was no riding or driving for me for 30 days becuase my head injury was so bad if I hit it again I may die.
I wanted to go home, see my family, see Blessing. When my eyes finally focused My entire family was there, kids, parents, all of them.
I want to thank Tim Day (a rider behind us) who offered a Ellis a total stranger his truck to go tot he hospital.
Thank Grace for taking him and staying hours with Ellis and supporting him.
Thank the ROTC boys, all the riders for protecting me. The emergency personell for being so close and making sure I do not remember my chopper ride.
I want to thank Sally, her husband, Rikki, her family, Candice Burger, PasoMom and Lori for all going back to Bob's and enjoying the rest of the day and supporting him because I know he was frantic. To all of you for keeping an eye on my daughter in law, I am sure she was upset as well.
Every year Bob and Grace Evans do Pasos on Parade. they have worked tirelessly, giving of themselves, opening their home, paying for food, trophies. They worked hard to make this a sanctioned ride for wonderful paso owners to be able to earn points riding in this parade. They promote the breed, publish the paper, support, promote all from their heart and love of the breed.
I owe Bob and Grace so much!! They both supported and encouraged me to write ( I am not a journalist) They open their home ( we have a permanant bed)
As for Blessing I want folks to understand this was not his fault! He is a special part of me. An extension of me when I ride. Since the accident I have been asked many questions.
No I cannot tell you what happened. He was gaiting great, there was a jolt and things started happening. After we got home Elis found a small hole in his chest. You figure it out.
Blessing has ridden this parade 5 years, He has done day parades, night parades, endless trail rides, both day and night, lights, bells, sirens. He has calmly walked past wild pigs during rides when i watched other horses rear and spook. Our neighbor drives a semi and has a deaf son. Upon leaving or arriving home he blos the horn so his son can feel the vibrations to know his dad his sayhing hello to him. He has ridden hiways, woods, swamps, sank up in a mire, ridden me when my ankle was broken, stretching as low as he could so I could mount or dismount. He has ridden with dogs running under his feet, he has ridden bareback as well as saddle. Never once giving me a problem. I am not saying he is perfect and does not make a mistake but SOMETHING happened. You figure it out.
I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW I SINCERELY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND THE HELP SOME HAVE SENT. i WILL PAY YOU BACK SOMEHOW SOME WAY.
On a nice note. My daughter delivered our 5th grandchild, a boy, she labored ALL of her labor here with me (she refused to leave me after the accident) the whole time using our hot tub. When she got to the hospital she was complete. They had enough time to settle her and she delivered Jakob Newt (after his great grandfather) 9 pounds 7 ounces 21 inches long 14 inch chest 14 1/2 head.