Monday, December 17, 2007

Beast of Burden - or- Trojan Horse

When I was twenty-one, my family was "into horses".  They had three or more, and their friends and they went riding every week end.  I was just home out of the service and I would have liked to join such a congenial crowd. BUT... I knew practically nothing about horses.

A horse is ten times the size of the person who rides him, guides him, is his master.  If the horse knew how, he could be the master of the human. But people who know how easily control that beast. You can fool a horse by pretending to know how... for a while.  Sooner or later the horse "catches on" than you are faking.  And if he wants, he takes over.

My family wanted me to join the social circle of horsey people, and I was willing.  So they put ME on a HORSE.  Right on top, as though I knew what I was doing. And we went on a week end social ride.

All went well for a while, until the horse discovered that I was just a puny human hanging on, not controlling. At a crucial point in the ride, he wanted to do his own thing, and he did.  He ran.

And he ran until HE decided to stop.  My "whoa" and pulls on the reins, nor my cursing did nothing. He had the bit in his teeth and I was merely hanging on.  When he tired of the game he stopped.  The rest of the group caught up with me with lots of advice on how to control a horse.

I don't remember if I finished that ride or not, but mostly after that I stayed off horses. I learned to fly a plane and pilot a boat, but the horse had won his battle of wits with me.  I am NOT smarter than a horse.

What brings this memory to mind?  My computer.  This morning the computer took the bit its teeth and ran away. For nearly half an hour, when I wanted to do one thing, it wanted to do another.  And so it did ITS thing. It downloaded files that I have never heard of, from someplace I have no idea where.  No amount of computer "whoa" would stop it. Not delete/control, not escape, not Start/turn off. Cursing did not bother it either. I could have killed it by pulling the plug, but I figured, that like the horse, it would behave once it tired of the game.

After twenty-five minutes, it settled down into normal routines. I am NOT smarter than my computer.  But I out-weigh it. We labor on, and I drive it warily.  Sooner or later it will take off again. I know it is just a matter of time.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

shucks cuck you did it all, a man of many hats

Anonymous said...

I have never felt comfortable around horses. Maybe it's beause I rode one at my grandparents when I was young. We rode accross a shallow creek, that's when the horse decided it wanted a drink of water and I almost slid off over it's head. These were plow horses so no saddle of course, they had been plowing up fields. Your computer was really acting weird. Helen

Anonymous said...

My granddaughter is a Hunter Jumper and has won many medals, ribbons, money and other things but I am very afraid of horses. Paula

Anonymous said...

Ahhhhh..... The horse was probably just playing <g>, but I would be worried about my computer downloading things I didn't ask for, could be a trojan or something! I know you probably already did, but run your virus check, spyware stuff.

Anonymous said...

HEY!  Where's the photo of you on the horse?

Anonymous said...

I especially liked the last two entries.  I stop by every once and awhile to make sure you are still kicking and keeping things straight out there.  Good to see you are doing so well, except for the cold.  Always good entries... Jack

Anonymous said...

I tried to be 'into' horses for awhile. I didn't care for them very much. I passed on them and went on to run the remote, listen to the music, turn on the stove occasionally and go to college....

Jackie