The Romance of Danilo & Georgette

Part One: An Unlikely Pair

This year the most extraordinary relationship of love has happened before my very eyes. My 16 ½ hands (1m80cm) tall dark bay horse Danilo in his advanced age of 29 years old has fallen deeply in love with Georgette, who comes from the forest to visit him daily. I called her “Snow White” at first, but then I discovered from my neighbors that her name is Georgette. She is a white pot-belly sow with an enormous body, which is gracefully carried on her very dainty thin legs and hooves that give her an air of wearing chic high heeled shoes.

Side by side they remain all the day long. Georgette kisses Danilo’s hooves, one by one making it around to all four. He shares his hay and grain with her, dropping the grain on the ground so she can join in his meal. When I found them both in his dark stall one morning, Georgette’s demeanor of alarm at having been discovered in Danilo’s bedroom, was instantly calmed by Danilo’s gentle mouth lowering to her neck nudging it and then, he licked her until she was reassured.

The gentle sweetness of their love and the improbability of it has been the miracle of this year. I will never underestimate the mysteries nature has to reveal to us to banish pessimism and give hope.

(Story written for my 2021 New Year’s Letter. Part two to follow…)