Pac-Man, The Uninvited Guest: Hammock Wars on the Ranch

Rest days are sacred. After weeks of pounding the pavement (or, more accurately, the dirt, asphalt, gravel, and occasionally my own pride), I finally landed in the perfect oasis—a beautiful ranch where I could recharge in a caboose-turned-home, surrounded by alpacas, goats, a 50-year-old tortoise who has seen more sunrises than I can count, and a truly inspiring family of ultra runners who have taken me under their wing.

Idyllic, right? Peaceful? Tranquil?

Enter Pac-Man.

Pac-Man is not a nostalgic arcade game here—Pac-Man is a horse. A determined, persistent, slightly-too-intelligent- horse who apparently decided that my hammock was his business.

What started as a restful morning under the trees quickly turned into an intense game of “Get Out of My Personal Space” featuring:

• Me, a human in need of a nap.

• Pac-Man, a horse with zero concept of boundaries.

The dialogue was straightforward:

“Go away. Go. No. No. No. Pac-Man. Go away. Go away. Go. Pac-Man. Pac-Man. No. Stop. No. We don’t do that. You can’t get in here with me. Pac-Man. Go. Go. Out. Go. Go on. Go away. Go away. Go away. Stay away. No. Pac-Man. Pac-Man. Pac-Man. Pac-Man. Pac-Man. Pac-Man.” (Actual conversation…)

Now, I don’t speak fluent Horse, but I was very clear. Pac-Man, however, did not care. He seemed to think my hammock was some exclusive VIP lounge, and he was determined to be on the guest list. I would shift, he would shift. I would wave my arms, he would inch closer. I would sternly say his name (the universal sign of “I Mean Business”), and Pac-Man would simply blink at me in that infuriatingly charming way only a horse can.

Was I going to win this battle? Unclear.

Was I outmatched? Absolutely.

Eventually, Pac-Man lost interest (or maybe just realized I wasn’t serving snacks), and with one final huff of dramatic disapproval, he sauntered off—leaving me victorious but forever changed.

As I lay back in my hammock, taking in the endless Texas sky, I couldn’t help but laugh. This is rest, the way I do it—surrounded by mischief, adventure, and a horse named Pac-Man who just wanted to crash my party.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

✨ Bonus Rest Day Highlights:

• afternoon hibiscus foowers with a 150-year-old tortoise who has no interest in my existence but tolerates me.

• Alpacas who stare at me like I owe them money.

• Goats who are convinced they’re in charge.

• An amazing family of ultra runners who have taught me invaluable lessons about endurance, pacing, and the art of moving forward no matter what.

• Sunsets so breathtaking they make me forget how sore my feet are.

Some people take rest days in bed. I take mine in a caboose, on a ranch, debating with a horse.

#KeepMePosted 🚶‍♀️🐴🌿