A Logistics Report That Personally Affected Me
Paul hitched the truck.
He hitched the trailer.
He braved snow, ice, and the kind of weather that feels personal.
The horses received five pallets of food.
I did the math.
Five pallets divided by zero Hamilton pallets equals disrespect.
I am not saying the horses don’t deserve food.
I am saying I also have a mouth.
A mouth that observed this entire operation.
A mouth that supervised.
A mouth that waited.
And yet, at no point during the unloading process did anyone say,
“This one is for Hamilton.
A Disturbance in the Caregiving System
There has been a disruption in my care schedule.
This is how I discovered it:
Krystin came out to feed.
This is unusual.
I am aware that she is still on strict doctor’s orders to rest.
This includes:
- no lifting
- no exercise
- and using her arms like a T-Rex
Or possibly some other dinosaur with comically tiny arms and very big opinions.
She is not supposed to be doing chores.
She is supposed to be healing.
Standing still.
Thinking restful thoughts.
Being decorative.
So when she appeared instead of Chris, I knew immediately that something was wrong.
I could smell it.
Not sickness… change.
Her skin smells like mending.
Like stitches and healing.
She told me Chris has a fever
I do not like this.
Chris has been my primary caregiver for as long as I can remember.
He does not stay inside.
He does not miss feedings.
He does not disappear for five days in a row.
Chris is my 2nd favorite person.
He is reliable.
He brings snacks with confidence.
He does not forget me during pallet-related events.
Krystin promised me she is doing her best to follow the doctor’s orders.
She said she would make smaller portions of food so she wouldn’t overdo it.
I appreciated the effort.
It was good to see her outside again.
But I am concerned.
Chris never stays inside this long… something is very wrong.
And I do not care for uncertainty.
I will be monitoring the situation closely.
Promotions, Training Failures, and Technology Excuses
There has also been a development among the dogs.
Alice is now a big girl.
She gets to patrol the property with her mother,
like a professional
with a job
and responsibilities.
She has been trained on the farm’s GPS fencing system,
and she understands it.
Natty Bo has also been in training.
She does not understand it.
Krystin says the collar must be malfunctioning.
She is pretty confident it is not working properly
and that we will need to send it back.
This explanation makes Natty Bo feel better,
so I will allow it for now.
I will worry about it later.
Final Assessment
In summary, the horses are thriving.
The pallets are excessive.
The dogs are progressing at different speeds, emotionally and intellectually.
One human is mending.
One human is missing.
And I am expected to accept this without additional snacks.
I do not like disruptions to my routine.
I do not like it when one of my favorite people is sick.
And I especially do not like it when five pallets arrive, and not one says my name even once.
I will remember this.
I will be watching the door.
When Chris returns, I expect compensation.
And I am not flexible on that point.
Snoutfully yours,
🐽Squealexander Hamilton
Editor-in-Chief, Grounded with Nature News
Senior Supervisor of Feed Deliveries and Human Wellness