By MARY LEMMER
What do The Wedding Singer, Domino’s Pizza, and Boston Terriers all have in common? They were all there the night of the epic summer thunderstorm nearby Walnut Hill Equestrian Center in northern Michigan.
My trainer, Jaycie, had invited me and a few other students to stay with her over the weekend, for lots of riding, learning, and, of course, barn chores. One night, after a day of riding we returned to her house, ordered Domino’s Pizza and started watching The Wedding Singer. It wasn’t too long into “You spin me right ’round, baby, right ’round” when simultaneously thunder struck, the house shook, the door slammed, and the lights went out.
As if we were set in a horror film, we called out to see if anyone was there, our theory being that the pizza delivery person entered the house, causing the door slam, and was somewhere aimlessly wandering around waiting for his chance to strike.
“Get in the truck”, Jaycie yelled amidst a backdrop of rolling thunder. Scared and hungry, the four of us shuffled outside, opened the door to the truck thinking of course we’d get in the front. “Get in the back”, without hesitation Jaycie told us. Her Boston terriers took the front cabin while the four of us carefully piled into the back, huddled in the corners closest to the cab.
What was typically a five minute drive felt like five hours. As rain poured, thunder rattled the sky, and trees and power lines fell we dodged the elements like a frog in Frogger dodging speeding cars. Eventually we arrived at Jaycie’s parent’s house, where we dried off and watched the lightning turn the sky green, still without pizza and polishing off arguably the best Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore movie collaboration.
The next day, we returned to the barn for what turned out to be riding in the newly formed Lake Arena. The storm put down trees and poured buckets of water everywhere. The horses seemed to love it, like kids playing in the puddles after the rain. Despite her panicked prompt for us to ride the perhaps more dangerous bed of the truck, Jaycie did really care about us. Her devotion to her students went beyond pizza and PG-13 movies. She started a horse show at her barn, providing us another opportunity to compete. She challenged us with compassion. She encouraged us to grow and try new things, whether a new discipline or riding our horses through the local ice cream drive-thru.
Now, over twenty years later, I am the same age Jaycie was when she reminded me to keep my heels down and chin up. Though she hasn’t been my official trainer in decades, her training has continued to empower my posture in and out of the saddle. Her “if you fall off, get back on unless you’re injured” mantra has continued to ring in my ears, leading me over and through many of life’s obstacles. And I am glad to say I have seen The Wedding Singer the full length through, multiple times, each time always thinking about the night the lights went out.
About
Mary Lemmer is a creative entrepreneur, writer, illustrator, humorist, and longtime horseback rider. She is the author and illustrator of “A Girl and Her Horse,” a heartwarming story about life and friendship told through the bond between a girl and her horse. Mary creates to inspire joy, connection, and freedom in others through her diverse creative pursuits.
