Odd Things I am super proud of, Part 1

I have seen fox three times in the wild. The way I tell the story you’d think I’d just won a large competition or earned a great sum of money. The first time I was hiking up a trail and had come to a peak where another hiker was quietly overlooking the valley below. Right behind him, a fox approached, walked around behind him, saw me and was gone in seconds. As soon as I saw the fox, I stopped and stayed silent. (Being silent is probably why I was able to creep up on these animals, which is not something you want to do. Making some noise while hiking alerts animals you are coming so you don’t have problems.) As soon as it came, it quickly left. To even alert the hiker ahead of me, sitting on a rock, peacefully listening in his headphones, would have scared the fox away. After the fox left, the hiker turned around to my presence and I wondered how to communicate such a special moment that just happened.

The next time was only a year or two later in Salt Lake’s Avenues Cemetery. This is a pretty old cemetery, as far as the West is concerned. I enjoyed walking through here because it was so quiet. I could read the names on the stones and even found a few relatives, which was really special. I was in a section on the Northeast and the fox popped up again to show himself. Immediately, I stopped to revel in the moment. (Back then I didn’t have a fancy phone and for that I am grateful, as reaching for the phone might ruin the moment.) The fox did his little dance, I knew it would not last long, and scurried off where I couldn’t see. I walked home feeling like I earned the badge of honor.

The third time was on another hike. I remember bragging about it afterwards. My third fox. Sadly, I can’t place in my memory where it was, too much has happened. I am sure it was on a hike.

I used to enjoy the quiet solitude of hiking alone in nature. There is no better feeling. It is not something I would recommend doing anymore, unless you are prepared on a very popular trail. The darkness of wild animals is just too much of a risk.

It takes magic for these things to happen. You can only control being in the places and being quiet enough to invite it to happen. You can’t control whether an animal may cross your path, not be aggressive when they do and the timing of it. That’s what makes it so special. This must be why hunters are so proud. It takes a discipline to learn all the skills but the magic has to happen on the other side too. Perhaps magic is when discipline meets opportunity.