I don’t think anything can prepare you for the emotional roller coaster that is divorce. Going through this currently, I’m humbled and amazed at how utterly flattened I feel emotionally most of the time. Thank the heavens for Kiss, who has been a very good girl through everything and has provided me that little bit of relief I’ve needed.

On top of my emotional pain, it’s been excruciatingly hot lately. St. Louis summers are never delightful in the middle of July and August, but the past week has been extra bad. I’ve barely done anything, as just standing out in the arena is enough to sizzle the water out of you like a boiled wiener. Kiss usually lets me know when she thinks it is too hot for work. She sees me coming and walks in the opposite direction, toward the shade.

In my efforts to keep myself occupied during this difficult timeframe, I almost bought a buddy for Kiss, an adorable Appendix mare who was being sold by a friend of mine. Unfortunately, the vet exam didn’t pan out the way I’d hoped, and not wanting to give myself even more of a challenge than I bargained for, I opted out.

Like Missouri summers, my life is seeming kind of stagnant and disappointing lately, but I know it won’t be like this forever. I keep telling myself that you have to have some hard times in order to appreciate the good times. So, there’s that.