Horses don't mix

I grew up in the country. A small town, not a farm. Close enough to farms that I knew what manure was and how to not step in a steaming cow pie. Haying was something that was done with human labor and the pay wasn't that bad...$2.oo an hour. We were swimming in cash.
One of my friends had horses. Eddy Jostock was his name, I'm not sure what the horses names were. I recall riding the horses once. Eddy had the lead horse and mine was a follower. We were (maybe I should say, I was) a stupid kid. Any one can ride a horse... I watch Bonanza and Gunsmoke. We were riding bareback with just a bridle on the horse. As my horse was the follower Eddy decided to run his horse in the pasture down a hill following a tractor path. My horse followed at the same speed. I didn't follow... as we headed down the hill I headed to hanging on to dear life as I slipped from the back of the horse to hanging on to it's neck from underneath it. Eventually the law of physics applied and I ended up falling to the ground. Fortunately the horse didn't trample me. Pride more than anything else was hurt. It did step on a foot but neither I nor the horse were the worst for the incident.
Years later I was in California visiting my Uncle. He had a horse that he kept for his kids. Not remembering past incidents I felt it mucho of me to ride the horse. The horse had other thoughts. As soon as I straddled the horse the horse was determined that I was not to stay there. I realized that gravity was going to have an affect on me at this time as well. Memories of prior horse experiences came to mind. I ended up on the ground-the horse ended up not carrying around a burden. I have come to the conclusion that I have an aroma that is offensive to horses. After this incident I have never gotten on the back of a horse.
About a month ago my oldest daughter, Kasi, found herself on the ground following her own close encounter with the horse kind. She was not as fortunate as I was as she suffered a severe back injury. We have counted our blessings. She suffered some fractures in her spine but there was no severe damage to her spinal column. She has severe bruising that has caused some temporary paralysis but that should come back after the swelling and bruising diminish.
This weekend we had Grams at the house and during our conversation I found out that this wasn't the first time that my eldest daughter had a close encounter with of the horse kind. Apparently when she was younger and was staying at her Grams for the summer she had gone horseback riding and found herself in a similar position. On the ground without the horse.
To my eldest daughter- it's genetic I apologize.... love dad.......jsf

Pain to help us remember

It has been just over a year and I thought perhaps it was best to remember what I was doing last year.
In April of 2007 our family was on the receiving end of a miracle. Actually it wasn't just one miracle. Perhaps a number of them in which I don't think that I'll try and number. I was in Utah helping my youngest son, Brig, recover from a motorcycle accident in which he should have died. Going 50 ish, at night, on a motorcycle without a helmet, and then having a car turn in front of you doesn't give you good odds at surviving.
He called me the day following his accident with, as he described "good news." He proceeded to tell me that he would not be riding his motorcycle home for the summer. Logical question that I posed was "Did you sell it?" After a long pause his response was something to the tune of "not exactly." After which I discovered he had been in a serious accident. He had called me first so that I might buffer the news to his mother. Sometimes children do not understand that holding back information is worse then letting all of it come out at one time. He was still in the hospital and was scheduled for surgery the following week. I made plans to go out and help him get around and also to help him finish the semester at Utah Valley State College(UVSC).
I have been blessed with wonderful children. I have come to realize as a parent that sometimes we must sit back and let things happen. We can not fix everything. We can't make things go away. Brig was our adventurer, he is the one who has shown little to no fear. He has ridden bulls and jumped out of airplanes. He just survived a horrific crash. He had surgery- one knee was totally blown and needed extensive repair. His left hand was broken in 4 different places.
Since last April he has recovered somewhat from his experience. He has learned some as well. We thought that he was doing very well as he went to a family reunion and was able to play football with us 4 months after his surgery. A 20 year old young adult doesn't necessarily let others know of discomfort that they are feeling. As a parent I have thought that sometimes a little lingering pain would help one to remember that we are all human, that our bodies do break, and healing can be a long process. Brig is now Elder French serving the Savior in the Las Vegas Nevada Spanish speaking mission. He has been out there for 6 months. His Spanish vocabulary continues to grow. His love for those he serves continues to grow. His knee is hurting him somewhat (somewhat because I'm not sure to what extent it is hurting him.) I can't take away the pain but he is in my thoughts and prayers....always...jsf

A new era-keeping an eye out

If anything this forum is going to be used to present the musings of an over-the-hill fishmonger. To some the term fishmonger is probably an unknown word, one that comes from somewhere in the past. I guess that is the purpose of this sight is to look for things that have been lost and find out where they have gone. If I am unable to find what was lost at least I can amuse my self in speculation as where things have fled to.
Today I'll start with the word -fishmonger. According the Dictionary.com a fishmonger is one who is a "dealer in fish, esp. for eating."(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fishmonger (accessed: April 26, 2008). To be a fishmonger is to work in noble trade and one in which supported my family for a period of 15 years. One who knows fish understands that fish doesn't smell "fishy" until it becomes old. Fresh fish has a clean smell to it, a fresh smell to it. It is pleasant to smell. Old fish- well every one knows what fish smells like. Normally that is old fish. It is what will stink up your fridge before you know it. I mean to keep this sight fresh... if it starts to stink just call me the fishmonger that I am.

I do not have the illusion that this sight will become cutting edge or avant garde in reintroducing things in this forum. It will be just a means in which I can vent.

Welcome to Lost and Found....jsf