I have just returned from a thousand kilometre journey through two provinces, to feast my eyes on my first grandchild, sweet Sophie, born June 30th. Bewilderment, amazement, wonder, euphoria... you name it, I felt it. There was a constant rush of emotions as I held that tiny bundle of perfection in my hands. I was transported back more than thirty-three years, when I held her mother in my arms, and felt that SAME WAVE OF ALL CONSUMING LOVE.
I am still in Lalaland. I digress... back to the topic at hand!
I saw so much looking out my window. Roadkill? You want roadkill???? I saw your usual, the skunks, the crows, the porcupines, the groundhogs, and myriad other smaller, non-identifiable animals. I always feel saddened to see these poor creatures, crushed to death. Our roads are on THEIR turf. How unfair that they meet their demise on hot, black asphalt, and not naturally in a beautiful spot in a leafy glade, under dappled sunshine. Oops... that is a BIT Utopian. It IS a jungle out there, but maybe no more so than on OUR major highways.
What saddened me immeasurably were the two, young deer, poor "Bambis, that I quickly glimpsed on my way to Dartmouth, in two different places. Both had been hit by a vehicle, and tossed onto the grassy median closest to the passing lane. I wondered where the mothers were, that their poor babies died alone. :(
I had left Sackville, NB, behind, when I spotted a half ton pickup, parked on the right side of the divided highway. The driver was bent over what I thought were a few bags of garbage. He then stood up, head between his hands, in what struck me as a gesture of frustration and despair. I am guessing, because what was lying at his feet, I suddenly realized, was a HUGE, BLACK bear that he must have just struck. I was gobsmacked! I debated stopping, but I really didn't want to. The scene was just too upsetting and sad. I was still debating whether I SHOULD turn around, when on the closest exit ramp to the accident, I saw a small car parked to the side, with its flashers on. Two young men were quickly jogging back towards the truck. I have to hope that they, in true Maritime fashion, were going to offer help and support to that other young man, who was obviously in distress.
I reflected on what I had seen, for many, many kilometres down the road. So may I offer a gentle reminder to everyone? While you are out driving the major highways and minor roads of our beautiful Maritime provinces this splendid summer season, p-l-e-a-s-e be on the lookout for ALL of God's creatures, great and small, wise and wonderful, bright and beautiful, the two legged kind and the four legged kind. They need, and deserve, our care and protection.
