A plea

from October 2008

Dear Horsey,

Let me start off by thanking you. You have been there since the beginning. And as soon as you could be cuddled and held, she took you everywhere, grasping onto your fluffy tail as your leash. You took flew in an airplane, took many road trips, and have even gone swimming. You have tasted a variety of foods ranging from rice cereal to spaghetti. You have also provided countless hours of medical care, whether you were wiping a runny nose, blotting a bloody tongue, or soothing a upset tummy. You have been carried around in Leroy's mouth, batted by the cats, and tossed around in dirty, manure-caked pickups. Never once have you complained about your less than glamorous means of transportation, and your tail has held up strong even though it is almost always in her mouth. Heck, you have even been honored with a watercolor done by Auntie Lavonne. And through your adventures, you have not only stayed with us, but you have loved us just like we have loved you.

But I'm getting the sense that you are feeling a little under appreciated. You see, we might not tell you enough, but we do love you.

Even though you may feel like you need the attention, hiding under beds and inside pillow cases is not the answer. Sneaking outside to hang out with Leroy is really not okay, especially when it's time for bed. And those poor cats are getting pretty sick of you smacking them when they walk by. Bedtimes have been disrupted numerous times because you have decided to jump out of the crib right when she is settling down for bed. And Horsey, it is really NOT funny to dip your entire tail in ranch dressing and maple syrup.

Don't get me wrong, we want you to stick around, but we just think you may need to start acting a little more mature. We promise more frequent baths, more time in the sunshine, and better horse food for you. In exchange, we'd like you to know that we really really love you, we just don't love it when you cause problems. I think we'll be able to reach an agreement, don't you?

Love, Bethany