Anatomy Of A Romance

It begins with a two hour drive to a tiny town in Northern California called Woodland (population 50,000).

Where a kind man comes to the gate and says, "Hi, I'm Joe. Can I help you?" and you tell him that you've come because you want to provide a foster home for one of his 104 horses.

Then one by one, he pulls out skinny thoroughbreds who weren't fast enough, or tall enough, or had the right body type. And there are many, many reasons why these horses have come to live at Joe's ranch. But that's a whole 'nother story that involves a soapbox and we don't need to hear that today.

All that matters right now is that these horses have caught a break in their short lives because there are people like Joe. Who thinks horses are the reason for living and that each life is precious.

And you look at all these horses and you think, "Oh my God, how will I ever choose?" There's Duncan, and Penny, and Big Red. And each one is gorgeous and each one wouldn't be here if it weren't for Joe, his wife Cathy, and their friends.

Then Joe brings out the last horse and your heart melts. You're introduced to Victor, who's only three and seems to think your hair tastes pretty great. Who's amazingly calm for a baby, especially a thoroughbred. He stands there in the rain and looks at you and you wipe the raindrops off your glasses for the hundredth time that day and you know.

The papers are signed, the romance begins.