Nature Walks with Nancy Ann

The birds were singing over my shoulder as if to waken me on this delicately crisp and cool, fall morning.
I could see them swooping up and down, slicing the air smoothly, like a knife; spreading their buttered wings in glee.  Happy that I was around, or was it the other way around?
Then, as low as low as low could go, they flew closely by my window sill.
Their cheerfulness seemed to boost me up out of my bed.
At first I didn’t want to oblige them; for I had been thinking of the days with my mother. Nature was one of her constant companions.  Thankful I was for those persistent birds fluttering around with their wispy feathers prompting me to get up and at em.
Thanking God, I threw on my sweatshirt and jeans, donned my moccasins and headed down the drive way still grief traveling.  A song came and flowed through my mind. “New world in the morning.” One of her favorites.  I felt raindrops rolling down my cheeks, stopping top the beaten ground; Lifting me gently along with the sweet morning air, was the sound my inner heart beat, heaped up with thoughts of my Mother, whom I missed so dearly.
Those birds came to ease my mind I thought. They were ok, and I would be ok. What a God send.
I had my new walking stick nicely fit to the curve of my hand as I traveled further over to the meadow.
Still brimming with noises, still there, unchanged. The wooded trail. It still had that mushroom and Christmasy pine needle scent and the soft blanketed feel of the moss was comforting underfoot. Walking with my Mother through the woods was always my favorite thing to do.
Once, I came across a baby coyote frolicking and I went along with him, letting him jump up on me. He wanted to play some more and again I obliged,
momentarily; until I realized that his Mother had to be somewhere, and not too far away. She most definitely wouldn’t abide this new friend.
Quick decisions are wise ones sometimes; Just as quickly, the weather crowned, the fog and mist lifted from the air like clockwork.
The sun broke through, with rays so soft and warm; they moved and dried my tears.
I think the clouds were tired of their stagnancy too. They dissipated before I knew it.
I sat down gently and quietly in the tall grass as I always do.
I was not alone a-fielding.
Not alone in my thoughts and song.
and when I rested in that quiet.
I moved and felt a presence bare itself
A deer had thoughts of mine, the same;
To rest upon the peaceful carpet of green grass.
Only a golden wheat curtain between us
He would teach me of the freedom
Of the wild blue yonder
For a split second, we instantly saw each other. We locked eyes for a moment … we stared … and then
Up and away with a flash of lightning, I heard
A thunderous crashing of hoof beats
He was off!
Swiftly he ran, sure footedly
With head held high
Confidence learned
“Don’t think”
“Just run”
“Don’t think”
“Just fly”

Story by Kelly Sampson Griswold

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