Calm after the 48 hour "flare"

This morning a woke up early and came downstairs to get my coffeemaker going. I looked out my front window and saw critter tracks everywhere. There have been many four legged animals about over the last week. Fox, coyote, and deer. Coyote were making noise earlier today, but it's always in the wee hours of the day. Anyway, I have always found it so wonderful to look outside and witness the animal traffic tracks in white snow. Here are creatures, so small and some so very big, making a passing visit through my yard and you never would know they were there if not for snow groundcover. Makes me smile.

I pour my coffee, put on the Weather Channel, and catch up on the early day weather promises for the world. Time for the second mug. I walk back into the kitchen and look out the window of the sink and there are deer strolling in my backyard. 3 does munching away on whatever they munch on during the Winter. For the entire morning and until 2 p.m. this afternoon they hung out. All 3, at one point, took naps. 2 out of the 3 laid on the ground, all curled up like we see our cat or dog do while the 3rd one also laid down, but kept it's head/ears alert. More fascinating was how they would take turns doing this. One on first watch got a break from one of the other deers and tucked it's head. Amazing. It got me thinking...

Families are like a small herd of deer. Especially, as we get older and have our own herd. We stick together, walk our own path to find what we need, and may not interact much. Together, yet separated. Not too close, not too far away, either But, when it comes down to being safe we take turns protecting the other so they may rest. It's nothing that is planned. We just "do it". Instinct.

What is unfortunate sometimes is Nature has it's own plan for change of that dynamic. Just like the 4th deer that showed up did to this group. The other 3 were not disturbed when she walked up to them. In fact, they just laid there like that had been. But, then she went up to one of them and started sniffing about. That caused that deer to get up, shake the snow off and walk away from her. Then, they were gone. This one deer came and interrupted the quiet and peaceful time they were having. I realized I have done that to my herd of family. I was once walking like they were, getting what I need, and following a path that was the same yet, not in any of their lines of walking. I had to break away and I came back only to disrupt. No intent intended, but I did. Even if they think they know where I have been. I could have been out in the far left of the fields, but for all they know I have been to the right.

I think it is time for me to find a new field. A place that I can make my home, find the nurturing food I need, and expand what my herd once was. Make my own path in the snow and hopefully, when someone looks out their window, they will smile that I passed by and left my mark I was there.