Home Garden Companion

Ilona's Garden Journal

Loss

| | 6 Comments

I have written all along about my farm and all its residents,
my gardens, as well as just plain daily life out here in the country.
i hate to displace ilona’s beautiful winter trees, but i need to
write about one of the downsides of country living and farm life.
it is mostly a quiet peaceful life, but rural roads seem to encourage
fast driving, and they are inherently dangerous.
a recent D.O.T. study here in georgia found the biggest
percentage of vehicle accidents and injuries occur
out on the lesser country roads. many people i know here have hit
a deer at least once in their lives. some were injured, some cars
wrecked and some just killed the deer. open country driving calls for
much more caution than an average urban road.

“poppy”-my beautiful dark horse, was killed thursday evening
by a speeding car. a dead tree had fallen onto the fence, and they
had gotten out. i almost had them both back home safe. the sheriff
and EMT’s had all their lights on to slow traffic, but apparently the
driver didnt notice. she was standing on side of the road with her
front feet just into the lane. the car was going so fast that the impact
broke her neck immediately. she did not suffer… for her sake, i am
so very grateful. i was holding my other horse, and it happened
right in front of us.
i’m so afraid i’ll never NOT see what i saw, ever again.

if this was a lesson, it is that life is ephemeral, circumstances can
change in an instant, and we need give our love every day to ALL
our dear ones…as much as we can, while we can.
i am very very sad today.

About Ilona Erwin

I was a garden blog pioneer, and began writing on this blog in 2003. Before that I had begun a garden website that has been at its own domain since 2006, Ilona's Garden.

I still love writing, gardening, and art after all these years, although travel and grandchildren have become a big part of my life, now.

DISCLOSURE: I may be an affiliate for products that I recommend. If you purchase those items through my links I will earn a commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link. Thank you, in advance for your support! Privacy Policy

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. T Opdycke says

    I’m so sorry for your loss. Horses are such beautiful creatures. Thank you for this very sad reminder of just how dangerous country roads can be.

  2. Nell Jean says

    I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful horse, Johanna.

    Speed and carelessness causes many, many accidents and loss of life and limb on roads here. A deer was hit by a car last week, but not killed. The woman’s husband came and shot the deer and it was salvaged as venison. Last spring part of one of our fences was knocked down by a speeding driver who reported to sheriff’s deputies that he was ‘trying to miss a deer’ — the deer was not available for comment. This is the second fence 50 feet from the centerline that has been mowed down.

    A young woman lost her life along the highway on the opposite side a couple of years ago when she lost control and rolled her vehicle, not wearing a seatbelt. Her child who was wearing a seatbelt was not badly hurt and was able to get out and call her father.

    Deer are prolific in these parts, drivers need to be aware. They need to realize that flashing lights indicate the need to slow down and pay attention, as well.

  4. Ilona says

    I know how you loved your horse, and this is just so tragic. Very sorry and know it is going to take awhile to process this… I can’t imagine how you feel.

  6. johanna_lea says

    ilona,
    i will process and heal as
    i try to help my other horse.
    they were together for most of
    their lives. rosa is still
    crying out to her companion’s
    spirit. they are capable of
    forming as strong a bond as
    we do. i will slowly become
    a poor substitute for ‘pop’
    but i will do what it takes.
    helping another to heal
    helps your own self.

    thanks for all your kind comments.
    vty, j-lea