I had a pretty remarkable experience this morning.

[WilliamPitt]

Last edited Sat Aug 30, 2014, 05:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Went out around 10am to get coffee and breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts, which is actually a treat now; back in Boston, one could not swing a cat by the tail without hitting three Dunks, while up here in the woods, it's a 45-minute drive to get to one and back again. It was worth it, however, because Cailen slept like crap last night, has to work today, and definitely had her GODDAM I NEED DUNKS IN MY FACE look on her face, so I went.

We live on a dirt road, and at the bottom of the driveway on the other side of the road is our cabin on the lake. For years now, the lake has enjoyed the presence of a huge heron. When it spreads its wings and flies, it looks like a 747. As I was coming down the road, maybe a mile from home, what was standing there at the side of the road but the heron. I slowed down as I approached it, lest it make a sudden move and hit the car. It looked right at me as I came up to it, turned, took flight...and flew down the center of the road, maybe eight feet off the ground.

...so I accelerated and got in right behind and under it. For about a half-mile, the heron flew right above my bumper as we both cruised down the middle of the road. I had never been that close to it before, and its wing span was easily wider than the hood of the car. It flew effortlessly, not spooked in the least by my presence behind it. Finally, just before the big hill that leads to the lake, it gently veered to the left and disappeared into the forest.

So, yeah, getting to Dunks may be a pain in the ass, but I got to fly with a heron. Boston it ain't, and that's just fine.