Halterbroke's Journal

Today has been A Day of Days.

First of all, Mary, who has been feeling rotten too, called me this morning and asked if I wanted to go trail riding, and of course I did so I met her at the farm and we took Dags and Ruth out.  It's a beautiful day, very green and not too hot, and we had a very good time and a good laugh or two.

When we got back we started discussing Pirate and she said that Gene is ready to send her across the street to be bred so I needed to make up my mind about leasing her.  It's all about money so we talked about that some too and then we sat down and worked out what it costs to keep a horse for a year.  It's only about 480-550$ a month here in SW VA.  (I say only because board alone near my parents is 1200$ a month, before grain, shoes, vetting, supplements, injuries, insurance...)

I got home and Jeff wasn't here.  I left him the list and a note stating that I needed to start leasing Pi and it would be ideal to keep Dag for the summer.  The reason behind this is super complicated, but let's just say that come fall, I will have just one horse, and it will either be because Dagny is lame or Pi is unworkable.  Just leasing both horses works out to be almost 600$/month so you know it's not pennies.  I can pay to lease one.  But both would clean me out.

I ran the dogs and when I got home he was here looking grim.

I can take another full time job, he said.  But I already put in an application to work the railroad.  That means I have to move to Clifton Forge and I know you can't go with me.  The pay is great and the insurance is wonderful and if I live to retirement you get a pension too.

I'm standing there stunned.

Clifton Forge is 1 1/2 hours away.

Starting pay is 700$/week.

HE WOULD BE LEAVING MY HOUSE FOR FIVE DAYS A WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND I WOULD HAVE MY HORSE!

Dreams maybe do come true.