Along Came A Horse

By Johanna Bouwman

It is true. You do not appreciate what you have until it is no more. Or, in my case, you are about to lose what you had so taken for granted: your life.
By my reckoning, confronting one's mortality is not for the faint-hearted.
For me, it was the perceived surety of terra firma to hovering mid-air above a deep, blue-black abyss. Bereft of control. No safety net to catch me if I fall. Nothing but a stubborn refusal to look down and a fierce focus to move with unfaltering focus towards landfall. To start over, but this time to live life on purpose.
And so from a hospital bed, a promise is made to the heavens above: 'You have my word. I'll not let you down.'

• Language: English
• Publisher: Johanna Bouwman
• Release date: Mar 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9780987184597

Johanna Bouwman

The preferred solution tends to reveal itself when a problematic situation or issue is viewed from different perspectives. Johanna's mission is to offer each reader another perspective - along with insights, tips, and ideas - for the purpose of broadening the scope of possible solutions for the reader's consideration. Johanna Bouwman is an accredited life coach attaining a Diploma of Life Coaching from the Life Coaching Institute, Australia.

Book preview

***~~~***

ALONG CAME A HORSE

By Johanna Bouwman

Copyright 2014 Johanna Bouwman for both text and cover image.

Smashwords Edition

ISBN: 978-0-9871845-9-7

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

If you are reading this ebook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Additional Notes

My reflections through writing are just that.

They are not a substitution for specific advice or guidance.

Also, content printed from this ebook must acknowledge Johanna Bouwman as the intellectual owner.

And as this collection of reflective writing is intended for personal use only, the content contained within is not to be altered, commercially distributed or broadcasted.

Thank you for your respect and cooperation,

Kind regards, Jo.

PS: I hope you enjoy reading my ebook!

***~~~***

Table of Contents

Prologue

When I Grow Up

The Gift From New Zealand

Go Fish

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

Twig

Look Back In Regret

Complications

Touch

Souvenir

By Chance

In Trouble And In Love

The Upside of Hurt

She's Got The Beat

Who Killed The Fun?

And The Winner Is...

So Lucky

Scorn

Riddle

Taken Unawares

Gone But Not Forgotten

Keeping Mum

Former Glories

The Girl

Along Came A Horse

Vintage

Through The Looking Glass

Deep Within The Quiet

Mirror, Mirror

Hidden In Plain Sight

Unceasing Quest

A Little Mystery And A Dash Of Gumption

Calm

Second-Hand Rose

Romance

Last Man Standing

Happenstance

The Reluctant Babysitter

What Joy Means To Me

Enduring Melody

Epidaurus: Thanks For The Memory

Sweet

The Child

My Dad

The Curious Case of Mr Smith

Outer Limits

Never And A Day

The Purge

Dessert

Daddy Day Care

From The Other Side

Point Of No Return

The Yearning

Perfect Storm

Magical

Achilles Heel

Frailty: Thy Name Is Self-Esteem

Something About That Tree

Epilogue

About The Author

Connect Online

***~~~***

PROLOGUE

Life is busy happening in forward-motion. The daily schedule demands it, but being too focused on doing the next thing leaves no time to wonder. Acknowledge. And to appreciate.

Realizing now is the time; I have decided to seize the opportunity to go on a reflective journey through writing.

Born and raised in an environment not too concerned with political correctness, the focus back then was making do with what one had. And without fanfare: to grow up, move out, and get on with the business of earning a crust. Taking responsibility, and living one's life independent of parental (financial) support.

I am not here to dazzle you with gob-smacking, jaw-dropping academic achievement. By and far of more value than my tertiary qualifications is life experience reflected upon for the purpose of further enrichment.

To that end, I hope you enjoy reading my stories.

While these reflections are from my personal treasure trove of life experience, they are not sequenced in chronological order. On the contrary, it is more recent sensory experiences that have triggered connections and insights to events past.

Also, the people mentioned are not referred to by their real name.

****

WHEN I GROW UP

Remember those daydreams of fame, fortune, and adulation? And wanting a gorgeous body and wearing clothes to die for?

Well my dear younger-self, I am here to set you straight.

When that specialist said ‘You have a beautiful pair of lungs’, he was not referring to your bosom. Rather, it will be your ‘exceptional’ lung capacity that will stand you in good stead helping you to beat the odds stacked against you.

Your ability to see the funny side of life will be the godsend you need to help you push through those months of pain and frustration. As for your pig-headed stubbornness: it will fuel your determination to prove the surgeon wrong as you massage, exercise, and cajole your feet to flex and move.

When you least expect it, love will enter your life big time. Steadfast, loyal, supportive, and accepting. And even though the blood will drain from your lover’s panic-stricken face as you are wheeled in the direction of the operating theatre, love will not flinch. ‘Marry me,’ he will say.

So, younger-self do not stress too much about your teenage hopes, desires, and fears. With the passing of time they will fade in importance. Know that genetics and life will have their way. What you once took for granted, you will learn to appreciate.

Hold fast your sense of humour. And that laugh. People will seek to humour you so they can hear it. Above all, continue to approach each new day with vim and vigour. Smile as you tell yourself: ‘Life is good.’

Remember to share. Forget about waiting for special occasions to say: ‘I love you’. Just say it and say it often. And throw in a hug or two for good measure. Leave no doubt of your feelings towards those you care about.

Finally, love your life. Give yourself permission to live according to your personal values. Know it is okay to dream. And aspire. Have the courage to ignore the nay-sayers, regardless of who they are and what they might think. It is your life, not theirs. So go live it.

****

THE GIFT FROM NEW ZEALAND

Fast. Furious. Wild. Opportunities to ride its rollercoaster flow fewer and fewer as the river was soon to lose its free ways by way of a dam.

‘Welcome aboard!’ says our guide.

I step from the jetty only to miss gaining a foothold. Falling splat, the inflated craft cushions the impact. My nostrils inhale the smell of rubber.

From above me a decidedly bristly voice booms. ‘Heaven help me!’ says our guide. ‘And may the lord, the holy mother, and all the saints preserved spare me!’

Oh dear! I think. Not a good start. Clambering to my feet, I utter ‘Ooopsi!’

The guide’s eyes narrow their focus in my direction. ‘You!’

‘Yes?’ I reply.

Flinging one of his arms he points to a spot starboard equidistant between bow and stern. ‘Sit there where I can keep an eye on you.’

‘Aye, aye sir!’ I feel his steely gaze bore into me as I sit. Possibly he too noticed my response with its well-projected, bright, and breezy vocal tone sounding at odds with his own.

I observe my travel companions interact with our guide. They too cheerfully obey his gruff instructions as we learn of the fickle ways of the river and how to effectively keep craft and crew safe. Soon we are functioning as a cohesive unit with each member assigned specific duties.

Training complete we paddle from the relative calm of the docking area. The craft gathers speed as the fast-flowing current takes hold. Up ahead I see the beginning of white water turbulence: Okay this is it! Ready or not, here we come!

The guide bellows instructions. I relay his orders. The rest of the crew take immediate action. Smoothly the craft traverses the first bumpy section.

The river’s flow slows as it meanders its way around a wide, sandy outcrop. In response the craft also slows.

One of the crew, Charlie, shows his jubilance by jumping into the water fully clothed. When his face emerges he lets out an almighty ‘Woohoo! That was fantastic!’

The guide’s facial features thaw into a broad smile. Standing he pushes one person then another followed by two more into the water.

I wonder when I am next, but that shove fails to materialize. For some reason the guide gives one other person as well as myself a wide berth.

An earlier experience is my excuse for not joining the others in the water.

On that occasion the mountain creek had looked so enticing. Hot and