Maria and the donkeys love to meditate with one another, they spend some time in contemplation every morning. Maria knows how to listen to the donkeys, and she knows how to talk to them. They are deeply spiritual creatures, they have lived and worked among people for thousands of years.
They know how to love us and fear us and ignore us. Their bond with Maria is very strong, you can almost reach out and touch it.
(I wrote in an earlier version that donkeys have been living with people longer than dogs. That is not accurate, dogs have been living and working with people longer than donkeys.)
Jon, your assertion that donkeys have ‘lived and worked among people for centuries, longer than dogs’ is misleading. A simple google to WorldAtlas.com, Animals Who Have Been Domesticated, shows a chart whereas the experts list the dog as being domesticated approximately 13000 BCE, and donkeys listed as #10 from around 5000 BCE. Dogs were an advantage during the hunter/gatherer early times. People transitioned to needing transport/working(pulling,early farming) animals later. You as a writer should know better than to make such a broad statement as this. Especially when it is not based in fact.
Pompous, but correct, thanks. Although there are writings of donkeys helping people much earlier than 5,000 – many cave drawings – I think you are right. I make mistakes all the time, I’m sure you do as well, Lynn, and I’m happy to correct them. I don’t need the scolding. You sound like Miss McCarthy, my grumpy old 4th grade English Teacher, with handkerchiefs sticking out of her shirt. She didn’t know how to correct people either. I doubt you will ever meet a writer who sits around reading Atlases and doesn’t make broad statements. What is it about the Internet that causes people to be so rude? I guess in my book, I’d rather be wrong than rude.
ROFL! Pompous? Rude? No, just tired of your blatantly wrong statements that you sometimes make. Some people may think they are correct facts when they are not. Your generalizations of life in New York State are not necessarily representative of the whole country, colorful & entertaining as they are. If you put it out there, then you know you are open to corrections.
I’m happy to correct my mistakes, Lynn, and always do promptly. It’s harder to give up being pompous and blatantly right. I am not representative of anything but me. Sounds like my blog is giving you a headache. I’d suggest going elsewhere, colorful as you are.
I would place this on top of all the amazing pictures you have posted. First Marie’s expression of genuine contentment expresses her inner beauty as well as her natural beauty. I’m not a photographer but the position of Fanny and Lulu frame Marie. This photograph touched me in a way that’s difficult for me to completely express. It made me want to trade places with Maria and experience that beautiful feeling that she is obviously feeling and you captured perfectly. I saved the picture so I can look at it whenever I need a reminder of what “real contentment is. Thank you for the gift of this picture, Jon.