(06/10/09) Northern Lights Elementary School (Superior, WI)

6/10/09 Northern Lights Elementary Outreach in Superior, WI

Magic’s nightmare: walking into school while being followed by a zillion kids on tricycles.

Kathi’s nightmare: walking Magic back to the trailer and watching a zillion young playground kids galloping and screaming at full speed to see Magic

Paula’s nightmare: Magic going up a very, very ,very steep S curvy hill in Duluth, and getting her butt mashed into the back trailer door and then having to go back down that very, very, very, steep with S curves hill with her cute, very cute white snip nose getting mashed against the front of the trailer.

All of these came true today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Magic was bothered by the sound of tricycles following her to the door of the school. We chose a side entrance but the word got out. Maybe it was that big blue diesel truck and the horse trailer on the one way side street. What a sight!!!! Magic at the head of this parade. Magic handled it well but was looking for a way out just in case she had to make a run for it.

Kathi’s whole body tensed up. Her eyes lit up and her mouth formed an ‘OH NO” as 1 child screamed “There‘s a horse!” and started running with 20 others joining in to run across the playground to check out this horse. Well, thank goodness I always walk Magic and Kathi back out to the trailer. Kathi has taught me well with a herd of horses barreling down on me (well I exaggerate, maybe a herd of 2 or3 horses) so I stretched out my arms just like with a herd of horses and yelled several times, “Stop. The horse needs to go back in the trailer.” It worked. The kids came to a screeching halt, digging their feet into the ground. They turned around and walked back to the playground. Kathi said, “I just knew Magic was going to break away and I would not have been able to hold on to her.” Our run away mini horse in THE BIG CITY - pretty scary stuff.

Gramma Carole and Betty W. laughed at me as I worried going up and down that mountain road. Betty W. says Magic’s nose does not get mashed because she turns around. It is her cute little butt that gets mashed going up and down the big gigantic mountain road. That poor butt of hers twice mashed.

WHAT A FUN DAY!!! It really was. We were all contented with the way things went. Gramma Carole said things really went so smoothly despite some of the excitement. We really needed 3 people with this big school and these large groups. I just want to say an extra thanks to Gramma Carole and Betty W.

We came back to Northern Lights Elementary to finish the rest of the 2nd grade classes. They were both excellent groups with good manners. It went so well. The groups were very respectful. They were very interested in WindChill. As they walked into the room they asked if that horse on the screen was the horse coming to visit them. Sadly I had to say no. “Why not?” I sadly explained.

As I started my presentation, I saw the teacher take out her Kleenex. She cried throughout the whole presentation. The kids looked back once in a while with concern. We talked about it after the presentation and the students already knew their teacher has a big tender heart. They agreed it was “so sad that WindChill did not live to be 2 years old.” “He would be just as beautiful as Magic and then he could have come too.” I told them that WindChill was here in spirit and deep in my heart. I told them that when I hear the clip clop sound of Magic’s hoofs as she walks down the hall, I always hear another set of hoofs walking with her. Those are WindChill’s. (Thanks Jeri Young for that lovely comforting thought. It brings me such joy.) They asked if Magic was around when WindChill was alive. I said no, they did not know each other. I told them that there is something about Magic that make her so specials and we figure that is why WindChill chose Magic to spread his message and be his ambassador. He has also put some of his spirit into her heart like in mine, Gramma Carole’s, and Betty W. Gramma Carole and I looked at each other and started crying with the teacher.

Wisconsin Public Radio was back just for a few sound bites and student/teacher interviews. They wanted more clip clopping sounds. There is general area by the exit door that has great echoes and it magnified Magic’s melodious hoof sounds.

With her second entrance of the day, Magic got the students’ attention right away. She did a yawn and liked the laughter and attention so much she did 2 more yawns. Again the students thought her teeth were gross. Kathi said Magic yawned because she knew Kathi was going to show her teeth anyways and Magic just wanted to get it over with.

Both groups were full of a zillion questions. They really were interested. The larger group started off asking questions and did not stop throughout the whole presentation. They looked closely at each picture and asked great questions, sometimes asking me to go back a picture to explain something that caught their eye. Examples: “Why was WindChill wearing 2 different halters?” (a regular one and a white fluffy one) “Did he go to the bathroom in his stall?” “How did you clean him up?” “How warm is that blue jacket WindChill is wearing?”

There were a lot of pet stories. Some had rescued kitties. One girl said she was given a kitty rescued from a locked truck. The kitten was locked in the truck for 2 days. One boy said he punched his big brother for throwing a kitty down the stairs. Their mother came running and swore at the big brother for doing that.

One girl said she was crazy about horses and collected them.

Another girl said she knew how it feels to lose a horse. Her horse broke his leg 2 years ago and had to be put down. I talked to her for awhile and both of us had tears in our eyes. She misses him as much as I miss WindChill.

One girl says her grandma keeps her horse but she sees the horse 20 times a year.

The kids get such a kick out of the wish list that? SOMEONE ? helped Magic write on her stable wall. They get such a kick out of her 2 boyfriends and how fickle she is, choosing Simmer over the stud muffin.

I got carried away with enthusiasm. Even the kids along with Kathi told me to keep my voice down. We were talking about horse dentists, farriers, hoof polish, and hair braiding. It was so much fun teasing them. Guessing where Magic’s frogs were was a riot-in her throat, belly, tail, ears, and eyes. It went on and on. Kathi made sure that they did not go away thinking Magic ate frogs. It was so much fun. Kathi lifted Magic’s leg up a number of times so all the kids could see her frogs and explained how her hoofs were filed. Magic stood perfectly still with her hind leg up high as kids gathered around to get a closer look.

The food service person who served cold pizza lunches yesterday came in earlier to pet Magic again. She brought the students who got cold pizza with her to pet Magic. A child sat on her lap.

It works so well to have the students leave the room single file and give a last hug or pet to Magic. One girl in pink walked by and Magic gave her the look “Don’t pass me by without a hug”. The girl stopped and walked back to give Magic a hug.

One girl whose family owns horses said she knew a lot about WindChill. She read about him in a magazine.

The teachers had a great way of quieting down the students. They counted down 3-2-1. Later Kathi used this technique with Magic. Magic was being stubborn getting into the trailer. (Who could blame her with luscious grass all around her, she is a horse after all) Kathi counted down but Magic ignored her.

As I was walking back to go inside the school, I turn around and saw Kathi picking dandelions and tossing them into the trailer for Magic. Kathi just makes Magic’s life so enjoyable.

Gramma Carole and Betty W. make it easier for me. Everything got packed up while I got the joy of walking Magic out of the building.

As we were leaving the building, the Polish interpreter came running up to tell us what a wonderful experience we provided yesterday for the Polish student she tutors. Teachers said hi and told us we were such a success. The kids really enjoyed it. We all chimed in that we enjoyed this too. We get back as much as we give. IT IS SO MUCH FUN TO DIALOGUE WITH THESE KIDS. We all have the bug and can’t wait to do it again!!! You just feel so good afterwards when you know they get WindChill’s message.

Afterwards Gramma Carole, Betty W., Kathi and Magic, and I went out to Burger King. We were starving. The 4 humans sat in the restaurant and it was nice to just feel we had put in a day’s work and feel good about it. Magic stayed in the trailer with her dandelion take out order.

After relaxing we drove over to Duluth, up that long, winding mountain road to visit Gramma Carole’s brother –in- law, who is very sick. Also next door is a special needs house. The residents came out to see Magic too. Again Kathi continuously goes out of her way to bring Magic’s joy to people. She consistently shows people her big heart. WindChill and his family already know how big her heart is.