Time is Love

Taffy, our 6 year old mare, goes to the fence line every morning. Like some people inherently direct themselves to their coffee pots or the shower. I watch her and her direction and purpose are clear and unwavering. Each morning she spends time with Danny, the gelding from the adjoining field. Danny has a Freesian mare in the field with him also, but every morning he is there, waiting for Taffy.

My life changes and circumstances get in the way of my schedule but not true for Danny and Taffy. Whether or not I can remember or if I do or don't slow down long enough to be aware, they still hold to their schedule. Danny will sleep under the cottonwood with his rump to the fence and walk out every morning to see Taffy. He will not fail her. She will not fail to meet him.

I can't pretend to understand what their commitment to each other in this world or beyond is or ever will be. I don't try to make anything more of it than the beautiful act of loving kindness that it is.

My simple mind is such a blessing sometimes because every day gets to be a new day. Every day I'm out feeding Taffy and the goats and I look up to see Danny and Taffy with their necks stretched over the barbed wire (cringe) you would think it's the first time I've ever gotten to witness it, again.

It's a dance that they are doing. I feel like a curious voyeur watching them because it's all so sincere and beautiful and intense. They face each other and nuzzle their faces side to side. Their necks run back and forth along one another's, reaching their heads straight up and high to cross from one side over to the next. Taffy will always relent and let Danny finally push her head down and to his side. They each walk into the other and I hate myself at that moment for building that fence. They breath and frustrate and situate as best as they can. Taffy will stretch out her neck as Danny is stretching his out and they set their heads on one another's backs. There they rest, as if in a trance. My heart swells.

It is such a blessing to witness a natural love. Unencumbered by all the world has to offer. To quiet myself and feel myself get small and my senses get large. To observe and witness something pure. Taffy cannot fashion anything to gift Danny and show him she was mindful of him while he was out working in the field. Danny cannot pretend to offer her security beyond this moment. They just sit and hold one another. They give each other absolute understanding. They close their eyes and sway as one as they are seeing the other. It is tender and true and sacred.

Time is Love.