Baby Deer ...

Earlier this week, walking across a field in Michigan, I startled a very small baby deer, or fawn, in the tall grass -- he started running ... and the dogs were after him ... and I ran to try to save him.

The fawn was very small -- smaller than canines ...

Leo the dog was on him, and had him in his mouth, and the fawn was crying when I got there and fought him off of the fawn.  With Leo out of the way, I now between him and the fawn, Nashoba came up and gently touched noses with the fawn ... they stayed that way for a bit, and then the fawn then again got afraid and started running ... and again I was chasing the dogs and fighting them off ...

If it were just Nashoba, my wolf, there wouldn't be a problem.  He listens and is very gentle with other animals ... but Leo is not gentle ... he is a killer ...

Fortunately, some adult deer showed up to help me [its parents?] ... perhaps it was only one ... but the large deer would run into the bushes and brush where Leo was hunting the fawn, and then Leo would come out of the brush chasing the adult ... this cycle went on a number of times before I got Leo under control ... I think he had completely run out of energy!

I hope the fawn was OK -- I think he was.

Swimming across the lake

Went with my wolf and dog to the lake around sunset – they were nagging me about taking them someplace for fun. So I decided I would take them to the lake, sit on my rock, and since I hadn’t yet meditated today, meditate.
While walking along the shore to my rock I thought, “really, what would be better, sitting and meditating, or swimming across the lake?”

Here it is June and I haven’t yet once swam across the lake ...

Why?

Not the water temp -- I've swam in April and my crazy brother MikE  and my crazy Russian friend Boris swam in November, after a Thanksgiving Day Feast [and lot's of vodka] in November with snow falling ...

No, it was my fear of the canines.

I go swimming and then they follow, and swim to me, with their front legs, equipped with nice long claws, going 500 miles per instant, and I come out with a zillion long welts and cuts, half steaming blood thinking, “Well, this swim wasn’t quite as relaxing as I had envisioned”.

I recalled with longing Wolfie who would just sit on my rock, guard my clothes, and patiently wait for me to return ...

So, I stood on my rock for about 5 minutes, trying to envision this swim – I decided I would viciously fight them off and every time I pushed them away, or kicked them, say “NO” and it would be OK.

So I dove in ... Leo followed and attempted to save me with his claws and mouth ... Nashoba stayed on the shore whining. I fought Leo off, pushing him, saying “NO” and kicking him and trying to swim ... he followed me a third the way across the lake and then turned back to shore.

I relaxed. Life it good! and enjoyed swimming on my back looking up at the clouds.

After awhile I turned to survey my location and found I was about 3/4 the way across and then saw Leo was coming again across the lake after me, this time with reenforcements – he was bringing Nashoba, my wolf!

I panicked! I swam as fast as I could hoping to make it to the far shore before the attack began!

And I just made it!

Wow -- this was the first time Nashoba swam across the lake!  With his webbed paws, he's an excellent swimmer, even faster than Leo, but he prefers not to swim.

We stayed for awhile, and I let the boys catch their breath, and then headed back, fighting them off, now two of them, as best I could. About 1/3rd the way across, thinking we were all going to drown, they abandoned me and swam for the far shore, and now I could again enjoy my swim.

Finally back at my rock, I surveyed the damage. Looking at my legs I saw more than a dozen 6 or more inch long welts, many bleeding along their length.  Wonder what my back looks like?!

Wow, I thought, this is getting much better! The least damage I’ve ever sustained! This is going to be a good summer!