I hear the deer again. A buck, rack held high, is dashing
about with the doe, engrossed in a game of tag. They race and chase about, oblivious to me in my tent as I
peer from the window. It's a
gorgeous autumn morning, a chill in the air and bright sun rising, perfect for prancing
about under the canopy of trees aflame with the reds and orange.
The other day I saw a young bear
playing with my bath towel that hung from the limb of a tree. He batted it back and forth with his
paws like any kid at the clothes line.
Then he meandered over to the garden and stood high atop his tippy-toes
to sniffle at the satellite dish. I
was surprised, thinking he'd only be interested in edible things. But no, he wanted to sniff and touch
and paddle about like any two-year old, investigating every new thing he hadn't
seen before, whether it was smelly or not.
And remember the bobcat,
somersaulting down the tree, with glee?
Animals at play — not something you see, really,
at least not in the wild. Dogs
tussle with old shoes. Cats bat
about feathers and balls of foil.
But wild animals? I thought they were all business,
burdened with the constant hunt for food, and with ferocity.
Not so. And to see them let go of daily discretions to clown and
cavort is such a treat, a delight. I
feel honored to witness them letting down their guard. They only need space, like
anyone else — free of threats and loud crashing
noises, free of faces leering too wildly from strange windows. Matter of fact — I
need this too, in order to rest!
It's been a long haul — this building of home, with quite a ways to
go to completion. I tire, but
daily soldier on. Then the animals come — remind me to play, to
take time for that. Don't let
autumn fly by in a rush of work! they say. Take time to laugh, to play; enjoy the changes going on. Go for a stroll under the canopy of trees. Enjoy the sound of rain.
So I do. And am renewed. Creativity flows, and as I turn to work
again the work itself turns into play, and satisfaction — like the brilliant yellows
spattering the woods — peaks, and I am so content.
