A lovely stranger

The other day our friend Brian was visiting from LA, and our friend Geoff came down from Santa Cruz, and as part of our general hanging out, we decided to go for a walk. I chose (channeled by Milo) an easy hike in Fort Ord, the former army base (1917–94), to the grave of Comanche, the last ceremonial horse there (d. 1993). Brian was especially pleased to discover this locals-only sort of place (though he was perhaps even more especially impressed by the copious amounts of vibrant poison oak round about). 

As we pulled up near the grave, we saw a couple of horses—which explained the horse trailer in the parking area. We said hello to the two women, and then set about taking pictures of ourselves at the gravesite. But then, I don't remember how now, it came up that one of the women was the daughter of the man—Sgt. Allan MacDonald—who had owned and eventually buried Comanche (who, btw, was a mare). And we set about having a really nice conversation. 

Her name was Jane, and her horse's, Wizard. We didn't catch (ask) the name of the second woman, but her horse was Sophie, and Sophie was very interested in our Milo—kept inching ever closer. Jane told us her story as an "army brat," living in various places around the US (Oklahoma, Virginia) and in Japan, but eventually ending up in Monterey when her dad retired. She comes regularly to tend Comanche's grave. Most recently, she put up some new American flags, and she stained the little wooden headstone. 

After all these years of coming out to visit Comanche, it was such a treat to just run into Jane with all her stories. I love it when history comes alive.