I leave the house here on Big Pine Key at about 20 to 8 AM to make it the few short miles to 8AM daily Mass and, well, honestly I could leave the house earlier for the trip, as one never knows what obstacles will be on the road. Travelling at 20 miles an hour… A big doe walked out, glanced at my windshield and then sauntered forward. "OK," I said to her, "go ahead…" But, wait one, here comes a fawn! The little one, all covered with spots, stopped in front of me, looked, and decided to go back to the nest. But wait, Mom has already crossed the street. Stand a moment in the middle of the street to think… "Return to the nest, or head forward into the unknown where Mom is?" Better go to Mom. After several 380 degree turns, the little one finally made it off the pavement and I was on my way again. "Bye sweetie," I waved! Woops … a few hundred feet further, it’s another Mom. and indeed here comes another fawn. "Yep, it’s OK, take your time sweetie." I wave my fingers. But don’t lose focus… I actually made it past the turtle crossing , oooohhhhed and ahhhhhed at a passing cardinal, and past the Moose before, yep, you guessed it, another Mama. But this Mama is the feathery kind with about 30 tiny chicks. So… what are they doing in the street? Why silly you! They are crossing the street to get to the Winn Dixie parking lot. Even I have opened a box of crackers for the chickens.
I went on to church and to the bank, and why not stop at the Winn Dixie too? Leaving the parking lot with the windows open, hair blowing, feeling the wonderful island heat, I was banging along to 60s music, and woah! I was actually doing 40 miles per hour! Island life takes place at 25 miles per hour… The summer heat is warm and humid on our faces, our flip flops break, and air conditioning in the Winn Dixie feels "too cold." come for a visit, but beware the birds, deer, and turtles!