Wow, so its february 2008. so much has happened in my life since my last pre DEPD blog.
Where can I even or where SHOULD I start? Before I begin did I already mention how much 2007 sucked? I mean I have to say even including the year of my divorce(2004) 2007 was without a doubt the worst year of my life here on earth so far.
Ever have something so horrid happen to you and wonder how just one person could turn your world so completely upside down? I guess I would have to say the moment the phone rang, 11:07 pm on August 24th 2007 was that moment for me. We were sound asleep when the ringing woke me from my slumber, by the time I was able to fumble in the dark for the phone the machine had picked up the call, it was my mother, screaming,crying and sounding unlike I had ever heard her. Once I had clicked the talk button I heard 3 words: Barn, Fire, Dead. I dont remember hanging up the phone, dressing or the normally 10 minute drive seperating our homes, which I later realized I made in 5 minutes.
I do remember how orange the sky was that night, I remember running towards the flames, screaming for my mom, running towards the paddock that was near the burning barn and seeing my equine friend of 24 years backed into the far far corner as far away as he could get, eyes wild with fear and terror. Ill be haunted forever by the dying screams of my two equine friends: AQHA "Sonnys Golden Image" a beautful 16.3hd Palomino Stallion born and raised by my mom, her golden boy of 23 years and AQHA "Blueprint Imprest" a 15.3 hand carbon copy of his daddy, my boy, Impy. Streaker as we called him was 17 the day he was murdered. I remember Sonny, I remember Streaker.......
Some who have never had a horse or animals as friends/companions/pets might think I am dramatizing by saying they were murdered, but that is exactly what happened.
My parents had testified as state witnesses against a local family who is always in trouble with the law in an assualt case, the assistant D.A felt these people that my parents had testified against were not a "real" danger to society so they only served a month a piece for their crimes. One of their minions,groupies,"friends" however you want to term him was apparently the one who physically started the fire, his apparent goal as he told one local coastal paper was to "take care of that old B***h for testifying" Nice huh?
That night my parents lost their home, 2 of our beloved,oldest, dearest, treasured equine friends, my moms dog, her cat and her Green Lord Amazon Parrott. All of their lifelong heirlooms and belongings. A piece of my heart died, another piece of my faith in the human race. I saw true evil that night, it was was horrifying I hope to never see it again. But evil did not win his ultimate victory that night, evil had wanted to kill my parents, he did not succeed.
There was a hero in the house that night, he was a young hero, with curly,wiry black hair. Sharp clear eyes and a cute, wet, black, nose, that wonderfully sharp nose. His name was "Bodie" and he will always be in my and my families heart. Bodie was the purebred Scottish Terrier I had gotten my mom for her birthday in spring '06. The night of the fire he barked like a dog possessed until my mom woke up from a sound sleep.
Bodie had never hardly ever barked his whole young life, it was his barking that got mom and dad out of the house in time, he wouldn't stop until mom went to see what he was barking at, when she got near his kennel by the french glass doors she saw the bright orange glow of the flames already reaching the upper floor of the barn. Once waking my dad they both raced out onto the deck and down the stairway with my dad having to push my mother through the flames licking at their skin on the side where the stairs were attached to the barn. There had not been time for my mother, whose hands are crippled with arthritis to open Bodies kennel door latches.
My mother still to this day will cry when we talk about our brave little man, I truly believe he would not have wanted my mom to have given her life to try and save him, Bodie fullfilled his destiny that night, I will never forget him. The rest of that night went by in slow-motion, my stallion "Imprest Too Much" survived that night, he was in the paddock and I removed him once I found my mom and dad were safe with the firemen.
Impy was so calm once I grabbed him by the halter, I had no lead chain to use with him so I used the sweatshirt I took off and looped it through his halter and led him as far away as I could, from the flames and screams of his dying barnmates. 20 year old barns go up fast esp when one uses excellerants(sp?) The person who did this is in jail, awaiting trial for 2 counts of arson, each count carries a "possible" sentence of 25 years, I hope the justice system doesnt abandon my parents yet again...
I know that if it wasnt for my family, my closest friends things would have seemed so completely hopeless. The DEPD shortly after the fire, I am still not sure how I managed to be a contributing, functional adult that weekend but I did. The crying lessened over time, the hollidays came and went and now we are into 2008.
I drive to my parents farm every day, twice a day, the night of the fire Tracy and I found one of the stalls in one of the older barns was safe to put Impy in. There is a trailer now where the large barn/house once stood, Sonny and Streakers graves have been marked, I miss them every day and will hold them in my heart forever.
These people, the evil that committed this crime against my family will be caught and convicted, all of them I hope and not just the dolt who set the fire.I believe in karma,they will be judged and found sadly lacking. There willl be justice for Sonny, Streaker, Bodie, Sophie and Buster, for my mom and dad.
Rest in peace my sweet friends, I hope you all crossed the rainbow bridge and are together. You both have earned your rest, the ribbons we won together, the memories of you both I shall always carry, many miles hauled while showing and playing. May you forever run through fields of clover and chase those beautiful mares across the sky, I will love you always.
Bodie my little friend, there are no words I can use to describe the love and gratitude I feel for your act of heroism,none.
Writing this tonight did bring back some very difficult and painful memories of that night, but it also brought back some great memories from the past with these wonderful animals. Good memories of my parents neighbors rallying around them with financial, moral and emotional support.
Memories of Bess,Red Beard, Anne, Gumbatz, Maude, Redlegs, Crudbeard and Barb and Young Ben comming to my house last fall to help erect the framing for Imps new barn, I love you guys!!! Memories of one of my dearest friends bringing me a truckload of lumber to repair my stallions paddock so he could go out to play(one side burnt) I miss you Lysander, very much. I will always be there for you, when you are ready, I love you.
The love of my life, you were there for me during my deepest, darkest moments of despair, when I thought all had been lost you held me and put me back on my feet. You helped me to see things would get better and they have, I Love you so very much.
With 2008 a new year comes my hope for a much better year, in december 2007 I graduated with my first College Degree from the University of Maine. I am burnt on school and have a need to eliminate some stress from my life for a while at least, so instead of plugging on towards my next degree I am pouring my energy into getting my farm up and running. Imps barn will be done very shortly, needing just doors and shingles on the roof for him to come home. Half the Paddock rails are up as of last weekend and we hope to have the rest nailed up by this weekend(weaher permitting). The rest of the land is scheduled for being chipped(cleared) before the ground unthaws and then we can fence in the mares pastures and bring them home as well. I have been job searching as well, not a fun task in this state if you want to earn $10 or more and hour, so it is taking some time.
So with this update I put behind me the sad, haunting year that 2007 was and look forward to 2008, to new beginings, new experiences and old friends. Thanks for taking the time to read about my friends, whom I will always remember.
~Sheree
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