The Hideout
The Hideout
In honor of the 3 (or possibly 4) little ‘Bambinos’ - it’s hard to get a firm count as they are in constant motion - in my pond I made a small sculpture to celebrate the little dudes.
It’s built in a tall skinny brass pot with a lid that’s about 8 inches tall. I have no idea what it was used for originally but it makes a great gator hiding place.
The little gators have been fun to watch this trip because they are less wary than older alligators who generally keep their distance, even when they are watching me.
Maybe these little guys just feel especially safe in the small pond instead of being in the big bayou out back, I’ve even had one swim along with me this week as I peddled my boat around. The others are a little more timid, and watch me from under the dock. I can see their heads following my peddling progress around and around.
I wonder if they just sense that they don’t need to be afraid of me? Perhaps their little brains already know that they will grow up to be formidable creatures and others will fear them so they just start out with that brave attitude. Kind of a ‘king of the jungle’ thing.
Alvin, the big guy who was giving me a bit of pause last week as I cleared around the pond, seems to have moved out. I think I may have weed eaten his nesting spot. I don’t feel bad though as it gives the little dudes more freedom to swim around without being eaten. Also, the turtles can get up onto the banks to sun themselves which they can’t do when the pond edges are overgrown with water plants and grasses.
Beyond the pond is a big area that looks kind of like a corn field but it is actually a crawfish farm. The alligators love to make their way across the road and into the farm for a little gourmet snack that they can’t get in the bayou. That’s too far for my little dudes to venture so they have to make due with pond fish instead.
I’m sharing a link to a friend’s story this week about how we can see things as opportunities and find joy in them or as problems which bring dread. It’s interesting to think about the idea that we can reframe situations in this way. I share this because sometimes when I share my alligator stories people wonder why I’m not afraid to go out with the alligators. But sharing the pond with them brings me nothing but happiness and joy. I guess that's the choice that I've made.
‘Whatever we're facing, the choice to shift our orientation is ours to make.’
Where do you choose joy in your life?
