I flashed back to one of my former possessions today. My vintage sterling silver western saddle ring; a gift from my best friend, Katie, in junior high. A small but perfectly formed little silver saddle that sat on my finger, which featured hand tooled details, just like the leather on a real saddle, and a tiny little rope hanging off the pommel, and a wee little turquoise chip set into the horn.
The pommel is the rise at the front of the saddle and the horn is the sticky up bit at the front, for those uninitiated into the ways of western tack. I used to ride with a western saddle, way back when I was young enough to wear a silver saddle ring, and getting thrown from a horse didn’t hurt so damned bad.
When I remembered the ring today I went looking on US eBay because I knew, if there was a silver saddle ring to be had, that’s where I’d find it. You can find anything you want these days on eBay, pretty much. I did actually find a couple of saddle rings, but none of them could hold a candle to the memory of the one I used to own. Though this one came close.
I held on to my saddle ring for three decades, even when it became too small for me and I had to stop wearing it. I loved it. I have no idea where it is now. Somewhere along the way from there to here I lost it and today I am having a little nostalgia fest for my old saddle ring, and I decided to invite some friends.
I know we’re only talking about stuff here, and stuff isn’t really important, but I wonder if there’s something you once had, that you loved, and managed to lose somehow? Something you’d like to have back, if only you could? (No, your misspent youth does not count.) If so, just set it down there amongst the general splendour of my missing saddle ring, where it can be admired by all.
PS: The contest announced in the last podcast now has actual winners whose names will be declared in the next podcast, which is the one I’m currently working on. Thank you for playing along if you did.
PPS: There will be more words here again soon. I’m using up the words in another place right now, but as soon as I have a few to spare, I’ll be back.
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