Figure 1 – White-tailed deer, Assabet River National Wild Life Refuge. (c) DE Wolf 2021.

The other evening I was on my usual walk through the Assabet River Natural Wildlife Refuge, when I saw something ahead of me on the path. It was a deer. All I had was my iPhone so I started clicking and slowly walking towards the deer. Every time I clicked with that artificial shutter click of the iPhone the young deer twitched its ears. But it did not run away. In fact, it started walking towards me. Finally, when I was very close, it retreated slowly into the forest. But I soon discovered that I could walk along side it, and again driven by curiosity it walked towards me. This is unfortunate in these woods. One could tell by the spots that it was young, not quite a fawn but not fully grown, probably born in the spring.

What wondrous magnificence! Figure 1 is my favorite image. I love the way that its ears and white tail are back-lit with a translucent magic. This was really a gift! It reminds me of falling in love. Have you ever fallen in love? I have, and you know who you are!

“You’re walking along minding your own business, you’re looking neither to the left, nor to the right, when all of the sudden, you run smack into a pretty face. You begin to get weak in the knees, your head’s in a whirl! And then you feel light as feather, and before you know it you’re walking on air! And then you know what? You’re knocked for a loop! And you completely lose your head!”

Walt Disney’s “Bambi.”