The year it was!

Hard to believe that another year is coming to a close once again, I really don't know where the time goes. After having a horrendous start to this year, on the emotional level, it has turned out to be probably one of the best years of my life, doesn't mean that it was always a bed of roses or a year full of joy or no pain, there was plenty of pain...the pain of watching a friend struggle continuously with the biggest loss in their life and the neverending consequences of it, the pain of not being able to help all I want to help, the pain of some not seeing their worth to the world, the pain of losing so many donkey friends this year, due to old age, injuries and diseases:
*our oldest Arizona
*our newest and only for a short time friend Augusta
*our sweetest donkey Danny
*Pinta, whose untimely death brought her mom, my sweet Orly back to the farm
*Gypsy, who passed away unexpectedly
*Muffin, who was very sick
So it has been a rough year at the DSC for loosing beloved donkeys. Of course when some leave, there is new room for others, and their spots were filled quite quickly, but their spots in our hearts will always remain theirs.
It was a year of learning and trying new things, a year full of new uncomfortable adventures, that let me grow enormously as a person, some made me mighty proud of myself and some, well let's just not talk about them lol. Some things were accomplished,some things are still in the works as they were put on hold or the back burner, but will definitely be revisited in 2011.
It's been a year full of blogging and making new blogger friends. A year of stitching and time away with the sisters, some laughter with them as well as shared tears. New memories made and old ones repeated, like the favourite days of the year that are such engraved traditions.
A year of ailments and pain, but as the saying goes 'no pain no gain', but I sure should listen to my body once in a while.
It has been a year of meeting hundreds of new people each week, some with whom you stay in touch and are delighted to see over again and again, whether they are part of the amazing volunteer group at the DSC or part of the amazing visitors throughout the year.
The best part of 2010 by far are two great friendships that have developed, amongst all these animals, with two humans, two of the most amazing women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Each of them being as different from the other as possible, they share one common love, which they also share with me, yet with each of them I have a very different friendship, a kinship. We have way more in common than meets the eye and it always makes for very good and interesting, heartfelt conversations and discussions. I have an admiration for both of  them, for the things they have done and the things they continue to do. Even though these two friendships are fairly new, there is a closeness and an understanding between us that I know I don't have with very many people, it's like friendships on a completely different level, not truly sure how to describe it. I just know that I am extremely lucky and blessed to have these two women as my friends. I have learnt so much from both of them, not just about donkeys, but about me, about them and life itself. I treasure them and my friendships with them dearly. Joan with her boy Cocoa  ........                                          

 

and Cate saying her good-byes to Augusta......

I really can't describe  exactly how I feel about these two women, I just know it comes straight from the heart and I am so blessed to have them come into my life the way they did.

So with this year coming to an end in the next couple of hours, here is to great memories to hold on to and to great memories to be created in the coming year. 

Wishing you all the very best for 2011!