It's A Windy View: Co-Captain

When we first moved out to our little house on the prairie I was working as a horse trainer by day and a restaurant/bar manager by night. Eventually I wanted to get a little more serious in the equine industry and I accepted a job as an assistant trainer for a well established training facility. I learned a lot, got paid very little but the best perk as a full time horse trainer (besides getting to ride 6-10 talented horses each day) was the opportunity to take the Boji dog with me every day to work.

Without a doubt, I would say those were the best 6 months of his life. He got to get up with me every morning, ride shotgun in the truck to and from work, hang out all day on the ranch, get pet by every client that showed up for a lesson. No fence. No kennel. No sitting at home alone all day waiting for his family to return. Boji's own little piece of heaven.

When I quit working as a trainer to take a job at the Arabian Horse Association (a desk job), those first few weeks were really hard on Boji. Boji would hide behind my car when I walked down to the barn to feed in the mornings. We had a really nice set up for him in the barn with a large run. He didn't care. I would call him several times trying to coax him to the barn. He would peak his little nose around the corner of the tire, make eye contact with me and then slink back behind the car - as if I didn't see him. Some mornings he would just lay down by the car and refuse to come. Yelling didn't help. I could usually convince him with a couple throws of a ball.

He hated getting left behind all day while I went off to my new job. Like I said, he loved that summer.

Now that I am working near my mom's house, Boji gets to ride most mornings with me and spend all day playing with Samantha and Charlie at Grandma's house.

I drive a Suburban these days. Boji's view is from the back. Behind car seats and diaper bags, strollers and laptop bags. He doesn't care, as long as he gets to go.

About a week ago, I bought a treadmill from and estate sale - Operation Italiano - for $25. Yep, $25 and it works. The machine took up the entire back half of my car.

There was no room for Boji except in the co-captain seat.

Looking over, I felt a wave of nostalgia all at once. I missed this face sitting next to me as I drove. It seemed like yesterday we were headed out to the barn.

Of course since then, the vehicle has changed. This new ride has a seat weight sensor that can tell when I have a passenger. A passenger who is not wearing his seat belt. After the third wave of annoying dinging and a red light...