Finally the Deer Shot, Don't tell O'Brien

I promised you a photo of the angry doe. Well here she is.

I spotted this small herd of deer while hiking at Fort Snelling State Park. The 6-point buck about knocked me down running across the trail. I grabbed my monopod and started stalking the herd. Surprisingly, they move very slowly. I really wanted another shot of the buck, but this doe stomped out into the clearing and snored her disapproval. I actually had time to set up a tripod before she snored again and started stomping toward me. I shot a few photos and then backed off. The DNR Ranger (who loved my photo) told me she was probably protecting a fawn and would have attacked. I was wise to back off. I just wish the buck would have reappeared.

If you wonder where I get my sense of humor, it is from my Dad. I discovered that Thursday evening.

He has his good and bad days. Up until Saturday he was, well, Dad. Sunday and today he slid back to basically being an old man who struggled to know who I was. He didn’t remember Thanksgiving (that is all he talked about for 2 days) and kept asking me if I knew about our brother who was killed in WWII. (My Uncle Philip died in New Zealand in 1942 during a classified mission.) I corrected him several times, telling him I was his son. He got quiet for about a 30 minutes, then announced he would like to do something.

I loaded him up and went for coffee at a local coffee shop. There he grumbled about the cost of coffee, eyeballed the waitress and announced my availability along with his desire for a grandson. After the waitress slipped me a fake number that we both did to quiet Dad down (she was a high school student for God sake) my matchmaker Dad was happy and ready to go back. He actually likes it at the assisted living home. He just has moments where he thinks it is boring and time to leave. I guess I am here to remind him how good he really has it there.

Now let’s step back to my wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. There is a side note on the sunset photo story that happened the next day. Cheryl, my Sister, hosted this rare family moment and wishes to top it for Christmas. She wants our Brother Phil up here for the next holiday meal. His son is working and unable to bring his father up here for Thanksgiving. She suggested I drive down to pick Phil up and bring him up to celebrate Christmas with the entire family, then return him to the nursing home the next day. When I mentioned to her that that is a 6 hour trip and I would be spending 24 hours on the road in 3 days, she sharply ask, “Did you have any other plans over the holidays?”

DOH!

Thanksgiving Sunset

I was taking my Dad back to his place after a GREAT Thanksgiving dinner (my first with the family in 30 years), we pulled away from my Sister’s house and saw a gorgeous sunset. I quickly jumped out of the car, grabbed my camera and started snapping away. My poor Dad sat in my car patiently waiting for me to finish. I spent about 15 minutes getting a variety of shots and slipped into the driver’s seat impressed with the evening sky.

My Dad looked at me and said, “You acted like that was the last sunset you would be seeing.”

“Did you see that sunset?” I questioned.

“Yes and I would like to see more. Set the emergency brake next time you hop out of the car.”

I glanced down and noticed he had his foot firmly pressed against the brake pedal. I quietly replaced his foot with mine, started the car and shifted it into gear. As I drove down the road my Dad quietly muttered to himself, “And they took away MY car keys!”

Needless to say, Dad was having one of his better days.

The three attached photos were taken (according to my father) at great risk to his well being. I hope you enjoy them.