Yesterday morning I was out in the driveway fooling around with my good saddle horse. He hasn't been ridden in a couple of months, so I had him out to brush him, tack him up and lunge him a bit and call it a day. When my friend Al drives by and see's me so he pulls in to visit and I was shocked!
Al is in his mid 80's no spring chicken, but has always been in really great shape, better than most guys half his age. Well when he got out of the truck, he was shakey and looking kind of frail.
He was in the VA a few weeks ago for bladder stones, and then he got some kind of bug, and it has really aged him, and it is a hard thing to see.
I don't want to let myself think of the road Al is on, the same one we all travel, but he is farther along it than I.
There are so many who have already gone down that road, my older brothers, Dad, Mom, so many. Some days the only way I can bear the loss is the knowledge that they are safe in Gods arms, and I try, but fear I fail at living a life that will allow me to be with them again someday.
When Al was here he mentioned that he was hauling horses for the Amish today and I offered to ride along and help him if he needed it, and of course he said he didn't, but then last night he called to tell me he was in the ER and they were checking out what was going on, and asked if I'd take his trucking job, so I'm off to move horses, and pray for my friend while I'm at it.