The Nutcracker ballet was an important part of my family's Christmas traditions, but that's not what this post is about. When I was living in Augusta, Georgia, there was a pony in a small field next to my elementary school. How unheard of that would be today. Think of the liability! Although as far as I knew, he was only aggressive towards my dog. There were other ponies living in my neighborhood, even though it was in the city. I would get some carrots and announce to my family, "I'm going to see the ponies" and walk a distance I can't remember now.
My favorite was Sugarplum. She was not exactly a pretty pony, but she was the sweetest one I've ever known. She lived all by herself in a nice big pasture down the road behind some other ponies. One day I was foolish enough to go into their corral, and the stallion charged me. I was a lot faster then and got out before he reached me.
Sugarplum belonged to a little girl who was too sick to ride or feed her. I don't remember the details her father told me now. I think I may have written them in my diary, but I can't find it. I don't know if it was a terminal condition or if the little girl was able to be with her pony at last. I hope so. That's what Christmas is all about, hope and remembering those times that touched our heart. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, whatever you celebrate. We need to celebrate each other in these times, including the animals who grace our lives.
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