Category Archives: marriage

Couples therapy

For the past few months, Anna and I have missed the opportunity to take the horses on a trail ride without the kids. This is because we have been without two horses for us to ride. While the lower feed bill has been nice, we really missed our time to ride as a couple and as a whole family.
On Monday, Calli (Calliope) came to join us. We have her on a free lease for now as we evaluate if she is right for us. Calli is a 5 year old, 16.1hh, thoroughbred mare. She has some arena experience, but is definitely more green than horses I have worked with in the past. So far, after 2 rides, we are getting along well.
Since it was raining this morning, we rearranged some plans and Anna and I went trail riding this afternoon. To my knowledge, this was only Calli’s second trail ride. We got her to do a small water crossing and did some canter work in a nice open field. She did very well and Anna and I were able to enjoy the afternoon out.

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The road not taken…

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…

While I am not known for being a particularly sentimental person, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost has always been my favorite poem.  To me, it is (and has been) a mantra to live by: make a decision and move on; don’t fret over the decisions in the past.

This week, I have been on travel in Washington DC for meetings.  When I travel alone, I find myself contemplating all the other what could have been’s in life (contrary to the mantra).  In the end, I arrive at the same conclusion: I probably could have taken many different turns along the way, but nothing tells me where I am is better or worse than where I could have been.

While I know there are many roads ahead, as I get to each divergence, I will hold the hand of my wife, look down each, and weigh the pros and cons.  Eventually, we will choose together and move on.  Maybe eventually, we will come back and see what was on the other path, but I doubt it.

How do you choose your road?