irielife.net

At this Christmas time of year, our hearts
soften just a little. We enjoy the laughter of little children, the
smell of evergreen boughs, the warmth of letters and news from friends
across the country. But, what of our animal friends? Is it possible
their needs can also be communicated at this wonderful time of year? I
assert that they can! In fact, I had the profound impression that a
deer we met the other day wanted something simple….just her two front
feet!

Yes, we were driving along last Saturday in our mini-van to
pick up a beautiful Christmas Tree. Northbound traffic was being
re-routed through varous 2-lane county roads due to an accident with
injuries. After almost 45 minutes to drive 5 miles, we gave up on
northbound endeavors and turned southward and home. Just 100 yards from
a 4-way stop (created by a policeman) we hit Blitzen. No, wait! Blitzen
was a boy-deer. This must have been his assistant! She bounded into the
left side of our car and up onto the windshield, leaving the safety
glass in a spidery web. Fortunately, none of us were injured. Randy
drove the car back around with some comment about "I kill it, I grill
it!"
Some locals stopped almost immediately, not to see if anyone was
injured, but to see if Randy wanted the fresh meat!! To which he
responded in clear minnesotan dialect "you betcha!"
He and Buz threw the deer into the back of MY mini-van and drove the
last mile home where they proceeded to gut it IN THE FRONT YARD and
hang it by a hind leg from an Oak in the FRONT YARD. The resultant
weight proved too much and the back leg tore off. Now we had a three
legged-deer. I was afraid Randy would now try hanging the animal by a
front leg, leaving more "hanging leg" christmas ornaments from the old
Oak out front.
A neighbor intervened to help Randy hang it by the neck instead. You
could almost hear the deer sigh in relief…."All I want for Christmas
is My Two Front Feet!"

Hope you all enjoy bright, happy, SAFE
Holidays! -Laura Lee