I just came back from a morning of shopping — an exercise in frustration. The dollar-store "reader" glasses ($9 and up) were either too flimsy or too trendy. I wanted the same ordinary ones I bought a year ago for $5, but none were to be had. The big discount store (W) said they'd need a prescription to make a $49 pair of readers. Nothing in between.

So on I went to the mission of finding a watchband. You have to be kidding! They don't stock more than one or two anymore. But for $10 I could get a whole new watch. 

The big-chain feed store was out of the dog food I get, and the few people who were in the store were all in the mile-long line, waiting for the one checker — who was on the phone.

I was successful in finding a toaster. When I paid for it, the checker squeezed it into a bag whose handle loops didn't come above the box. I just looked at him, dumbfounded. He mumbled that was the only bag they had.  Without moving, I said, "Surely you have another bag." So he went to another counter where — what do you know? —  they had bigger bags.

I was initially discouraged, wondering how our society could have so fallen apart. But then I remembered that this afternoon I was going to see my horse, and life there is real.

I think we horse people have tremendous advantages over the population in general. How many of those people I saw at the big box stores have someone waiting for them at the pasture fence? How many have to be aware enough to get their feet out of the way or they get stepped on? Our horse experience keeps us grounded  and not assuming life revolves totally around a cell phone.

As I drove home, I truly counted my blessings - having a horse I can be myself with and horse people who keep it real, too.