Blue Ridge is a fictional town located deep in the heart of Kentucky. It is home to one of the most well known equestrian academies in the United States. Students and staff from all over the world join the academy for what it has to offer. Do you have what it takes to join us and learn from the Academy?
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First off, I’m terribly sorry for not writing you sooner. I had to leave on a 2-week trip to Collierville, Tennessee - my hometown - two days after I received your letter. I could explain further, but I don’t think you want to hear my excuses, so onto something worth reading.
I was so happy to see your letter in the mailbox. I know, my delayed reply may suggest otherwise, but really, I was. When I got the notification that there was something for me at the post office, I thought it was going to be something concerning my brother. So I guess my happiness was partly out of relief, but it can’t have been the sole reason (since I did get that notice after all) because I’ve been smiling since I re-read your letter and started writing my reply.
Anyway, your hometown seems like a lovely place to live. I’m not much of a shopper, but I have to say that the smaller chains and locally owned stores are more interesting to browse through. What is like to have the ocean so close by? The last time I’ve been near the coastline was, I believe, in elementary school. I don’t remember much from those years, but I have the distinct memories of the salty breeze and getting my finger pinched by a small crab while exploring tide pools. Can you smell the ocean from your house? Where I live, there are a lot of lakes, some larger and some smaller, but all banked with rock underneath a fine layer of gray sand. I do hope to someday take Tickle for a beach ride. I think he’d like it, if he’d ever get over his hydrophobia.
All year, I’ve been looking forward to sleeping in a little as well. Now especially, after two weeks of getting up with the sun back home, in order to make it to my old stable in time for morning chores. Don’t get me wrong, 5am air is quite nice, but the tranquility of it is often broken by the barn owner giving jobs to people. He’s such a morning person that sometimes I think he’s the one who wakes up the sun; he certainly has the voice to do so. But he helped me get to Blue Ridge, so I figured that helping out would be the least I could do. He is, I suppose, a bit like a father to me. What does your father like to write about? Does it match up with what you like to read?
I wish I could say that I too am a reader. Alas, it isn’t so. Sadly, I think that the last book I read that wasn’t for a class was my thesaurus. It sounds weird, but I look at it a lot, actually. It helps when I’m looking for the right words to fit into song lines. What about you? What was the last book you read? I suppose your answer wouldn’t really give way to any discussion, but I’d like to know. Speaking of literary discussion, there was a poster on the bulletin board about a student interested in starting a book club. Maybe you could look into that when you get back.
Rose, I hope I’ve convinced you that your letters would be quite welcome. I apologize again for not getting back to you in a timely manner. I hope this letter is interesting enough for you to pen a reply. If it wasn't, and you merely want to maintain a connection Blue Ridge, just tell me and I won't send you another for your eyes to glaze over. Whatever the case, I shall await your next letter.
Don’t worry about the timing of your letters. If they come sooner, I’ll be happy because it’ll seem more like a conversation. If they come later, I’ll be excited because I’ve built up more anticipation.
I’ve heard that the ocean shore slopes down gradually before dropping off like a cliff. It seems a little scary to me, just walking - or wallowing - along and then suddenly there’s nothing beneath your feet. Though I suppose being the water would help, since you could swim or otherwise stay afloat. Unless you get caught in a current. Hah, it sounds like I’m as fond of the water as my horse is. Really, I assure you, that is not the case. I guess it’s just the ocean that I’m a bit more wary of. Well, the unknown, really. And isn’t that the basis of all fears? Anyway, October to March leaves the summer months open, which seems like a pity. But I know a few people back home who would react poorly to a pile of horse manure on the beach.
Tickle stayed at Blue Ridge while I went home. It’s a bit of a long drive to take by yourself in the first place, and I was on a time crunch that would have prevented me from stopping to let him stretch his legs every now and then. Also, my truck can go faster without a trailer. I’d like to think that Tickle appreciated the two week vacation. At times, I did wish that I had brought him, like when I was invited to join a trail ride with a few other teens. Luckily, there were a few schooling horses that I could choose from. Much to my surprise, one of those horses was the first one I’d ever taken lessons on! It was nice to ride Zanadu again. She’s a chestnut pinto with wall eyes and a motherly spirit. It was on her that I first learned to jump. What was the first horse that you rode regularly?
Your father sounds like a well-intentioned man, and similar to you (I guess it should be the other way around) in the best ways. I mean that as a positive way, though to you or your father I don’t know. I’ll settle for both, though you can take it whatever way you want. Looks like I’ll have to work on my compliments before you come back.
Have you always loved such novels? What aspect of them makes them so endearing to you? For me, at least musically, I settled on a country-influenced sound because the guitar was a prominent instrument, and because I felt that the song lyrics could apply to many different people in many different situations. It felt more real, to me. That’s not to say that other genres of music are any less impactful, of course. Country music just stuck to me. Maybe it’s because it was the dominant music genre when I was growing up, though my parents took care to play all sorts of CDs for me to listen to.
What kind of music do you enjoy most? I hope you don’t mind a little country, because I’d be delighted to play - and sing - something for you. I’ve finished two songs so far, and am working on likely a dozen different ones right now. Sometimes I’m not in the right mood for a certain song, and so I’ll set that one aside as start a new one. This inevitably leads to the mess that my music corner is right now. I know I’ll have to sort it out at some point or another, but to be honest, it’s grown on me. A little bit of chaos doesn’t hurt (that’s my excuse, at least).
I’m glad that we have this chance to get to know each other a little more. I haven’t much experience with letter writing, but I’m happy to be doing it with you.
Stay as you are, Jason
Last Edit: Jul 29, 2014 10:09:31 GMT -8 by Deleted
