Happy Mule

Giant step for me yesterday.

About a year ago I learned that I have bone degeneration in my back. At times it can be very painful, and although I have always been able to do just about anything that I physically wanted to, this past year has been quite a wake up call for me. To make a long story short, I haven't had the strength or the courage to get on my mule in almost 11 months. I've missed it more than words can describe.
Yesterday, I was puttering around in the yard, and as usual my back began to hurt a bit. Now I sometimes slow down or totally quit what I'm doing, and rest the back for awhile. Then, if I feel better, I go on with what I need to get done. Not yesterday. Yesterday, as my back pain eased, I decided that it was time that the mule and I had a little exercise...together. Not just the round pen for her and not just weeding or garden work for me. I got the brushes out. Nothing different about that, but you should have seen her eyes when, low and behold, out came the dusty saddle and blanket. She remembered exactly what they were for, and if ever eyes talked, boy did her eyes shout happy, happy, happy! I think maybe she thought that we would never do the "riding thing" again. I think that she actually misses it more than I do!
Wednesday's ride was a step by step experiment to see just how much exercise we could both endure. Well, I'm happy to say that we haven't lost it! We (emphasis on we) had a great time, even though it didn't last very long. As I mentioned to a friend and fellow blogger recently, 'it's the process and not the end product that should keep you happy". If you rely too much on the end result for gratification, then what do you do after that? Now I'm hopeful that this is just the beginning of a whole new process and something to look forward to.
Can you see Polly smiling?