I warned Simon before I took him out to spend time with Lulu and Fanny that the world is filled with strong women, and I don’t think there are any docile women any more. Not in my life. We put them together for an hour, and he was definitely ready to go back into his corral. Don’t worry, boy, I said (this ticked off the former girlfriend) I wouldn’t leave you alone with them.

All the people I work for are women, and they are tough. My agent, editors, publicists.  Not to mention my former girlfriend, who is part Sicilian and fiery (I once thought she was much quieter). Simon learned this this morning. He was brave, but not for long. Lulu and Fanny both smacked him around a bit when food appeared, and he ran and hid behind me and Lulu and Fanny ran and hid behind Maria. That’s how the world works, I guess.

We will tray again in a few days. In donkey terms, it didn’t go badly, although he did seem intimidated. He was much relieved to get back into his little corral. Simon and I have bonded big time, as you can see from the video. I’m getting used to being brayed out when I go outside and we have wonderful greetings for each other when we get together. I love Simon. I told him not to feel bad, that we all have to learn how to deal with strong women. It will be good for him, and if you listen to them, you do all right.

New routine: Every afternoon, I go out to the pasture with a lawn chair and I bring an apple, cut it up for Simon, and sit and meditate with him. He puts his head on my shoulder, tries to eat the water bottle, Ipad, or cell phone if I have one (I am giving those up for the visits) and the two of us stare out at the pasture and try and make sense of the world. My plan is for the two of us to get old together. In exile, goading donkeys, like the Kabbalah says. Sooner or later you find yourself. Simon and I are a pair. Maria says she would be jealous if he were a girl.