2 Responses to “Peekaboo”

1. Deborah Dobson Says:
   January 8th, 2015 at 10:28 am

   Hello Shreve, Charlie and all other assorted critters of fur and feathers,

   Happy New Year to everyone and I hope you all are welcoming this new beginning. I just learned that Saturn (the planet of time, structure, lessons to learn, order and karma) is now in the house of Sagittarius which compels us to seek truth and freedom.
   Shreve, you have challenged yourself in many ways and become a power of example for others, especially other woman. Kudos to you and thank you.
   I moved from New England to Arizona in the late spring of 1994 at the beginning of a drought that would last over 10 years – toward the end, even native plants and trees were dying.
   Now I’m in western North Carolina and miss the immense spaciousness of the desert skies, its beauty and the proximity of the animals. Reading your book about Charlie brought back so many memories.
   I adopted a dog while in Arizona and I believe she may have had some coyote in her, probably a generation or two back. Much like you and Charlie, we developed a routine of hiking several times a day, with our longest trek early in the morning. I cherished those times and so appreciated being able to let Nora roam freely off-leash, knowing she would always circle back to me to check in.
   One late Fall afternoon we were out for our pre-dinner walk and Nora suddenly dashed off. I assumed that she was chasing a rabbit – unlike Charlie, she pursued every one she could and as long as no one got hurt, I didn’t discourage it.
   Usually, she came trotting back fairly quickly, telling me that “another one got away” but this time she didn’t, so I decided to head over and investigate. The sun was beginning to set and bathing everything in its buttery-yellow light and I was approaching a field of tall wheat-colored grass, knowing that Nora would easily blend into it with her golden coloring.
   Then I saw a movement silhouetted in the distance. I remained silent, listening for any sign of danger, but there was none so I walked closer. What I saw took my breath away and I longed for a camera to capture the beauty of what I saw.
   There was my girl, happily leaping and cavorting with a beautiful coyote! Normally shy and reticent about meeting strange dogs, Nora acted as though she’d found a long-lost relative . . . and later I thought perhaps she had.
   Mesmerized, I stood still watching for I don’t know how long, captivated by their sheer joy and delight. Finally, they stood with all four paws on the ground, sides heaving from their play with wide grins on their faces. Then they bade each other a canine good-bye and Nora trotted back toward me, still grinning and full of joie de vivre.
   Some time later, again bemoaning my lack of a camera that day, I decided to capture the story in words; I called it “Dances With Coyotes”.

   I choose to believe that woman are the natural bridges between the wild and the tame. Because we often use our intuition and our ability to nurture, we can also help create the safe space needed for animals who have often been designated as “enemies” to actually form warm friendships.
   Thank you, Shreve, for again showing us this ability. I would like to recommend another book to you called “Love, Life and Elephants” by Daphne Sheldrick who grew up in the eastern part of Kenya. Personally, I think both your book and hers should be made into films so that more people can know and hopefully celebrate your stories. Something for you to consider I hope.

   Hope to hear back from you and again, thanks for your openness and courage!

   Debby Dobson

2. Richard Says:
   January 8th, 2015 at 11:20 am

   nice message, Debby

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