An Equine Christmas

Yesterday morning, Lisa and I took fellow ex-pat Riverdalian, Karen “Cruiser” Anderson (Beck) to breakfast at The Alley Cat Cafe in Ft. Collins.

Cruiser left Riverdale towards the end of the last Century and headed out West to work as a ranch hand – think Yellowstone – and has spent the last 30 years moving around to different western states doing just that. Her constant companion for most of that time has been her beautiful Arabian Bayolina.

Cruiser – who is also the sister of Ferd Beck, the McCaffrey Merlin – was such an interesting character growing up (and now), that she appears as a character in one of the early Riverdale chapters of Finding Jimmy Moran. She appears in the Van Cortlandt Pony ride chapter.

Anyway, Cruiser now has retired from life on the range and lives in a cool apartment in Ft. Collins and now gets around – with her faithful side kick Moshe – on the coolest bike ever.

It may not be considered a steel horse but it is at least a steel pony.

Moshe has made several visits to Casa Claire in the past, including some sleepovers.

So, it being Christmas, Cruiser wanted to introduce us to Bayolina, who is boarded a short bicycle ride from Cruiser’s apartment. Cruiser bikes there just about every day to spend quality time with her dear friend. In minutes we were there. It really is a wonderful place, with lots of other horses to commune with. I could tell Bayolina was very happy.

Bayolina was one of the most gorgeous horses I have ever met. Her black mane really frames her face. I stood off exchanging pleasantries with the other very happy horses at Smith’s Farm, to give Cruiser some alone time, but did manage to snap this candid photo of Cruiser whispering what horse whisperers whisper in Bayolina’s ear.

After seven years on Casa Claire, I understand Cruiser’s deep human-equine connection.

I appreciate Cruiser’s unique and extremely independent Western cowgirl personality.

Anyway, after spending some time with Bayolina, Cruiser, Lisa and I had a wonderful almost 4 hour breakfast at The Alley Cat Cafe – which is in the middle of a remodel so that they can hold open mike nights for musicians and poets. It was fun catching up with Cruiser. She is an authentic Riverdale character.

When we got home Claire and Honey were waiting by the front fence all ready to hear all about the beautiful Bayolina.

Then I spent a frustrating hour trying to get my Alexa – Echo back on line in my bedroom, and then made some family related calls to embrace in the holiday spirit.

Lisa and I retired early, but I woke up just before midnight. I didn’t want to wake Lisa, and didn’t want to wake up that early for the day, so I descended to the main floor and lay down on Blue’s couch. At exactly midnight on the living room Alexa’s screen, I heard the clear and distinct toe-nail tapping sound of the two foot, hobby-horse, descent of Jeter coming down the stairs after me.

Chit-chit, chit-chit, chit-chit. . . chit-chit.

By the time I heard that last step, I was sitting up on the couch with every hair on my body galvanized.

I felt him around me.

It made my Christmas.

After a few minutes of appreciating the experience, I was able to lie down and sleep for a few more hours.

Well, Christmas is now behind us, the New Year awaits.

Thank God today is Tuesday.

Hopefully the legal world is on a Christmas week break.

Should you fine, five readers have to embrace a work week, move as slow as you want.

But whatever we do, let us all make today a great one.

Merry Christmas Cruiser.