date walking

With a coffee stained hand, I stopped to lick the brim and caught the ears of a young deer rising from thick bramble and fern lusciousness.  We locked eyes and I can't say who moved first but like a rock hitting still water, both our bodies rippled violently back.  Coffee exploded over my sweatshirt and the deer dove into the darkness of green.
Nearly every morning since February, I walk up the driveway to open the gate of the park and then continue up the hill or down Luana Beach Road with a cup of coffee in hand.  With months of engaging in this ritual, I find myself in intimate contact with the landscapes and creatures here.
The feeling evoked through this relationship is oddly similar to that of dating someone.  Over time, the intricacies of that person's face, body, voice, and personality define themselves through physical and emotional sharings.
My walks are no different.  After hundreds of visitations, I could spot a plant that was freshly blooming or withering, a new deer in the local herd, a shift in the scent of the alder trees, and even how the mood of each season played with the colors and attitudes of flora and fauna.
Every morning, I awaken and no matter my state follow a strong desire to walk into this seduction. Point Robinson holds me like a partner.  I am known and valued by the inhabitants here.  Raven bird greets me every morning, the wind plays with my jacket, neighbors wave and exchange sleepy smiles.  It is simple and holistic.  We move autonomously and as one.
The love I am feeling for place is placing me deeper in an experience with love.  I am walking into a relationship that is vast and intricate like the furls of the sword fern.  I am rising to meet a mysterious lover who hides behind the next cedar.  He waits for me and I will find him tomorrow.