my inner hermit

I really need to get out more.

Once a month, I drive to the mountains to visit the shops that carry my jewelry. It's always worthwhile financially, but I'm so in touch with my inner hermit, that making this trip, especially in the winter, seems like such a chore. It's been snowing for weeks on end up in the high country so I put off my last trip as long as I could, hoping for a break in the weather. That break finally came on Sunday morning.

Sunday Morning
leaving town

I wasn't a mile from my home when I had to stop on the highway to allow a herd of deer to cross the road. There were 7 or 8 of them and each one took its turn to jump the fence along the side of the road and cross slowly to the other side where they gathered together again near some trees before heading up the hill. The last one in the group seemed to ponder for a very long time and watched his companions as they went on ahead without him. Finally, in one graceful leap, he was over the fence and then v-e-r-y---s-l-o-w-l-y trotted past my waiting car. All the while I was feeling around in the pile of bags, hats, gloves, CD's on the seat beside me, searching for my camera. Not wanting to take my eyes off the deer, I gave up the search and just enjoyed the show.

When I was sure none of them were going to dart back onto the highway, I was on my way again, just as a flock of geese flew overhead, low enough for me to see their golden underbellies.

And I found myself thinking that if I hadn't dragged myself out of bed this morning to get on the road and take care of business, I'd have missed this.

I really do need to get out more.