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Americans
choosing to live south of the border are often surprised that the
romance of Mexico isn't
limited to its people.
Of the many lovely experiences during my first years in San Antonio
Tlayacapan, which is on the north shore of Lake Chapala and not very
far from Guadalajara, one favorite story is about a brown stallion
named Lassie. Why he was given that name is anybody's guess. I recall
wondering at the time if he might be gay.
Lassie's home was an adjoining plot of land whose stoney dirt was
sparsely populated with a blade or six of grass, and one lone tree.
Our property was separated by a chain link fence which played an important
role in the Romeo-and-Juliet-like drama which was to unfold.
One of my dogs, a female Siberian Husky named Ninotchka, immediately
and wildly fell in love with the horse. This was quite something,
since Ninotchka is an aloof creature who chooses to associate only
with other Huskies, the occasional Malamute, and my longtime Ajijic
buddy from New York, Tom Faloon.
From the minute dog met horse, it was true love. It might've even
been obsession since, for the first time, Ninotchka refused to come
when called, insisting instead on remaining at the fence and French
kissing Lassie through the openings between the chain links. Lassie
was even more intensely enamoured and kissed back with a tongue longer
than the red carpet on Oscar night. Doubting human friends came to
witness this phenomenon and walked away true believers.
Soon Lassie's enthusiasm broke all boundries of civilized behavior
and his ardor was aroused for all to observe. He whacked frantically
at the fence for immediate admittance, leaving hoof dents in the chain
link as mute evidence of his passion. Those depressions in the fence
are still there because I recently looked.
Lassie was, it seemed, frequently without water or food. Being the
kind and caring (spelled n-o-s-y) person that I am and, since he was
practically my son-in-law, I filled water buckets, lowering them by
rope over the fence. They should have named that horse "quick draw"
because he slurped the entire contents with one pull, requiring my
frequent return to the spigot for refills.
Since what I know about horses you could easily put in your eye and
still have room left over for a dozen contact lenses, but recalling
the eating habits of television's Mr. Ed, I repaired to the local
ex-patriate market, returning with a carton of Quaker Oats and a carrot.
Lassie must have taken lessons from Seabiscuit for, when he caught
sight of the carrot sticking out of the groceries, he raced at me
so fast, I hastily hurled everything over the fence in a panic, and
he all but inhaled not only the contents, but the bag they came in.
I respectfully asked for and was granted permission to continue feeding
and watering Lassie by the owner, who was father to a schoolmate of
my housekeeper's son. Next day, on Lassie's side of the fence, mysteriously
appeared a magnificent carved stone basin. I learned that Lassie's
owner had said, "If the Seņora is kind enough to feed our horse, she
should have something beautiful to put the food in."
Encouraged, I found a feed store in town which delivered hay. I'm
certain Lassie appreciated this nutritional improvement, since he
had been enjoying his Quaker Oats dry. ("Got milk?")
What's Romeo- and Juliet-like about this story? After returning to
the states on a writing assignment, I learned that Lassie had been
sold to someone in Chapala, though I have been unsuccessful in attempts
to locate him. I hope he is happy.
My dog never loved again. I've often wondered what their offspring
might've looked like, had the separations in the chain links been
large enough to accommodate Lassie's rising desire for Ninotchka.
Our California mountain cabin is near the village stables and, to
this day, the only time Ninotchka springs into action is at the sight
of a horse, any horse. She does not rest until she has sniffed to
her satisfaction that it is not Lassie, and dejectedly turns away.
Certain living things are meant for each other, whether it be a caballo
and a canine, or a lady and a lake.
© Maggie
Van Ostrand
"A Balloon
In Cactus" August
2003 Column |
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