Monday, January 23, 2012

AND SO THE MIGRATION CONTINUES

Dear Snowbirds,

As I sit here bundled in my fleece riding britches, Underarmor t-shirt, wool socks, fleece vest, I see your Facebook pictures and videos of Cross Country schooling in the Florida sun.  You left us after Christmas and tease us with pictures of green grass, t-shirts and galloping outside.  I sigh heavily, one day that may be me... yes, one day that may be me.
Snow in October
Sigh... gonna be a long one

This next migration is even more painful.  You see, the Florida Snowbirds have a professional feel.  They are the Trainer's-trainers,  the serious working students and those moving up... not to Training but to Intermediate and Advanced.  I live vicariously through your thrills.  Envy?  Maybe just an itsy, bitsy tiny bit of envy.  You see, I will never be you but I love what you are doing.

It is the migration to Aiken that steals my serenity...  just a bit!  You see, the flock that flies to Aiken are folks like me...  Amateurs, the thirty-, forty-, fifty- somethings.  You're eager to go to be outside, to laugh with your Eventing Buddies and some of you may not even compete...  you just want to have fun at the hundreds of places to run, jump and play.

And, you're not only tech-savvy...  you are active posters. You'll have brushes with celebrities and may even take lessons with our greats.   Your pictures and stories are told instantly on the Internet, through Facebook, COTH and Blogs.  I've never been to Aiken but by the time I get there I will know where to go for the best breakfast, best XC schooling, best event, coolest restaurants... 'cause you tell me every day you're there. 

My Trainers left this week and I am alone...  dreaming of you all in Aiken, Ocala and Wellington.  One day that will be me!

So, winter work continues...  finding the grrrrr, making jumping fun again and really fine tuning our transitions.  We will gallop in the snow and laugh with our home girl peeps.  XC skiing will replace XC schooling...  and sometimes, I'll look South and think about you...

One day that will be me...

6 comments:

SprinklerBandit said...

It's cool that you're within striking distance. That is ridiculously far away from me.

Boss Mare Eventing said...

I wish!! Too bad I'm in Ontario, and have a full time job with little to no time off. Some day :)

Katie Murphy Eventing said...

Come to Southern Pines for a visit! You and the critter family are more then welcome!

Suzanne said...

Ahhh, Katie... Forgot about Southern Pines... I'm sure I will be reading your blog with a slight drool... one day... Are you gone for Feb and March? Ahhh so tempting but not this year... one day! Have a blast!

Unknown said...

I commute back and forth weekends, since I am an almost 50 amateur with an OTTB about to do his first BN, but I love the really warm weather in Florida.

Amy said...

So funny! I was thinking about this very thing this morning and contemplating a blog post for AWHIP. My trainer and a barnmate are heading to Wellie World, which is sadly miles out of my reach financially even though I have a relative I could stay with! We won't even say how far out of reach it is in terms of level of competition (for me, not The Sainted Mare, of course). I love your phrase "finding the grrrr!" May I borrow? Your Sug looks lovely in the snow, BTW. <3 The Other Sug's Mom