Tuesday, September 18, 2007

My Dear Angel


Last night my dear friend Carol called - her beloved horse Angel was colicing - never mind I had dinner about cooked - anxiously waiting for my man to drive in from the ranch - we were going to watch the season finale of "Saving Grace" with Holly Hunter on TNT - jokingly referred to as Humpin Holly - but when a friend calls with a sick horse - you go. I threw the butte paste and some other colic medicine shots in the truck and drove like a madwoman to the Rock Ranch. Angel had been thrashing around her stall and was pretty torn up - I was out of the truck and had the paste down her throat in a matter of seconds. Carol kept walking her and I hooked my truck upto her gooseneck. Thankfully I had a flashlight in the truck so I could see in the pitch dark - yes, there is no electricity at the Rock Ranch. Carol called the vet again and we loaded up Angel. Carol rode in the trailer and I drove - a little more gingerly this time - precious cargo - a horse and my girlfriend in the back of the trailer. We arrived at the vet's house/clinic around 8:20 PM. Its a father/daughter vet team. I proceeded to hold Angel as Sid stuffed a four foot plastic tube up Angel's nose and from the bucket they pumped some type of oil into her stomach. She quivered and shook as if she was going to fall down. Then we moved her into a corral where the sides are close enough she couldn't lie down. Then they stuck an IV in her & started her with liquids because she was dehydrated. Then we waited and waited and waited - a few hours later and still no bowel movement. Did I explain what colic is? The hours passed quickly in the barn as I played hop scotch, alphabet games and sang mickey mouse songs with Sid's three year old grandaughter and learned more about Sid's family history. A quiet time. Then after a few hours loaded with more drugs we took Angel home to continue the wait. I left Carol and Angel at the Rock Ranch driving her hybrid car headed home to salvage dinner with my honey. I had to call Carol three times to ask questions about the the hybrid's computer screens, gas gauge, how to turn off the car ...the gps was prettty cool though and the camera! I love gadgets.
Then sometime around 7am my phone rang it was Carol - Angel had died. I could feel her tears on the phone and know the pain she must feel. She was around the corner bringing me my truck - we hugged and cried together in my driveway. I will miss Angel.
Farewell my dear angel - thanks for the great rides & big heart & willingness to share yourself with so many novices.