Around 18 years ago, Ron Davis twirled into my life - literally! When 6 1/2 feet of big hair and sequins come flying at you like an enormous, whirling dervish, you basically freeze and, in my case, cower open mouthed in awe! Ron,( a.k.a., Ms. Weis Wiener Boucher Stendahl Klein etc, etc, and so on…. think Liz Taylor) was as much a perfectionist in drag as he had been as an equestrian, extremely detail oriented down to the tiniest lip movement and flirty wink. I once watched him do Rosanne Rosanna Danna’s 15 minute high school commencement speech without missing a lick! And that was it -I knew we’d be friends for life!
If I’m honest, which I already told you I promise to always be on this site, I’d have to say that, before Ron, I definitely thought that my universe revolved around me. I was sure that this whole thing was my movie with everybody else was playing either a supporting role or most probably having just a walk-on part.
Then came Ron and my entire theory was totally out the window! First of all, he’s scary smart; one of those gays that is always five hysterical thoughts ahead of everyone else in the conversation, making him the life of every party, in or out of a dress. Beside his amazing wit, Ron has always possessed all the qualities discussed in “The Tipping Point”. He’s the most innovativelyconnected, mavenly salesman I’ve ever met, making him both fabulous and supremely dangerous in any given moment. Only Ron has made me sit and wonder if , just maybe, I didn’t really have any control over my destiny. Maybe this is all just Ron’s movie and I’m the one with the walk-on role!
Ron has gone on to be an amazing director of some very successful documentaries. That being said, why wouldn’t I have the very best “help” for my movie? He’s the very best my imagination could come up with for a best friend!
And when I say “best Friend”, I truly mean it. Ron, though a highly successful senior vice-president of a major book publishing company in New York, has never failed to be there for Robert and myself. Whether to help us in our hours of need, through the loss of loved ones, to join with us in almost every charity event as well as working hands-on with everything from the Equestrian Aid Foundation to being a “Big Brother”, Ron hears the call for help and is always there, even when most people would never know it.
Quite simply, Ron Davis is ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS and that is why I could not be more proud to make him my Out For Good Hero for November! We love you, Ron!
Cheers!
RD
I’m back from conducting a very fun symposium in Tallahassee at the farm of Carol and Walter Dover (no relation) and, though it started with a few hiccups, I believe everyone went home feeling they got a lot out of it.
As I have mentioned before, I have terrible flying karma, and this trip was no exception. I arrived on Friday afternoon 1 1/2 hours before my flight on American Airlines was to leave from Miami Airport. By the time I got a parking spot and got to the ticket counters I still had one hour left. Of course, who could have predicted that the kiosks would not be able to find my itinerary, thus forcing me to find the shortest line to an actual agent, that being one with 25 people ahead of me. Twenty minutes later when I finally got to the front of the line, a very rude man told me I could not fly to Tallahassee since my airline was not actually American but rather American Eagle which meant taking a bus from the gate to the thing they called a plane (not much resemblance if you asked me). Further, my bags could not go even if I could since I was not within 45 minutes from my flight anymore. And so I went home and returned at 5:00am the next morning for my 7:20am flight. Thought it was supposed to be a small jet, the airlines changed equipment at the last hour to a prop airplane and also changed the flight number. The slower craft got us there, albeit 30 minutes late; however, my bag did not arrive, forcing me to teach the entire day in my blue jeans and tennis shoes, something which I have never done in all my years of teaching clinics. I do not believe in being unprepared to ride and always am attired in my britches and boots and have my gloves and spurs as well on hand.
Nevertheless, the symposium ran beautifully and was attended by many wonderful riders, horses and auditors. The farm is absolutely gorgeous and everyone enjoyed great hospitality as well as a very fun party before I arrived and on Halloween night at a local restaurant.
And even with the somewhat difficult beginning, i saw huge progress in every rider and horse over the 2 days and can safely say that each of them has a greater understanding of the basics and especially the half-halt. Sadly, Jenna Wyatt, who helped organize the symposium, could not be there for the 2nd day, so I had the fun of riding Flash, the horse in her training, through the Grand Prix work - a nice way to finish off a great weekend.
And after a nice day on the beach in Miami, I am home in Wellington until my next trip on the 10th, November to Toronto and Ottawa.
Cheers!
RD
The story you are about to read is the truth, I know that for a fact as I was the victim! The perpetrator was dealt with, and received his just desert.These are the facts just as they happened. I was fast asleep. The time was 1:30AM. I felt something crawling over my back! I tried to sweep it off with my hand, but knew I couldn’t dare go back to sleep until I found out what had walked on me. I jumped up, and flung back all the covers. I searched with my eyes and hands, but found nothing. I decided what ever IT was, IT was gone, who knew where. I decided to walk into my bathroom. There walking beside me was a giant Palmetto bug. I thought how strange, he is following me like a dog?!! I turned around in front of the toilet, and he just stood there watching me. I decided action was necessary so I gathered up some toilet paper, and reached down to grab him. No luck, he just scurried out of my reach and stood there, always watching me.. I gathered more paper, and stepped closer. He just scurried further back out of reach, and stood there watching me as if to say, “What now Lovely lady” He may not have been thinking that, but I like to think he was. At no time did he feal threatened. I decided enough was enough. I ran into the kitchen and grabbed a can of Ded-Sect, by Rexford Rand, the company I used to work for. I raced back into the bathroom, but my friend had got tired of waiting for me and left…so I thought. As I started back to bed, there he was walking by my side again. Ha Ha,” now I’ve got you”, I said to him. I sprayed and sprayed until I knew the one of us was dead, and the other almost.He didn’t move so I figured it was him, not me. I, none to delicately picked him up with more paper and forcefully tossed him into the toilet. Now I am feeling remorseful. I should have saved his life, and put him into the trash for a feast, or outside to find one of his own to follow and love. It is too late now. I hope there is a home in heaven for dead Palmetto bugs, and that he is there safe from this poor human. Sob. Roberts Mom
