Nature’s Surprises

Nature’s Surprises

Nature’s Surprises 956 850 Donna Skeels Cygan

Nature is full of surprises. Sometimes, Mother Nature reminds us that she has tremendous power, such as when a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake strike. Fortunately, in most cases, the surprises from nature are much more subtle, such as wildflowers blanketing a meadow a few days after a storm in New Mexico. Or, hummingbirds flitting about my garden.

On a recent early-morning walk, I was surprised by nature. The area where I often walk is full of native vegetation and wildlife. It is unadulterated, except for the trails that meander through the area. After finishing my walk, I returned to my car. I had parked along a lane and under a tree. I was sitting in my car looking at my cell phone when I heard a thud. I looked up, and a roadrunner had jumped on the front of my car, and was looking at me through the front window of the car.

Many people have never seen a roadrunner, and the image of Wiley Coyote and the Roadrunner is their only vantage point. However, in New Mexico we have real, live roadrunners. They are fun to watch. The one that jumped on my car showed they are curious. He was as surprised to see me a few inches away as I was surprised to see him. We stared at each other a few seconds, and I decided to take his picture. I then noticed his partner was beside my car, acting very nervous. I don’t know if he was looking for his mate or if he knew he was on the front of my car. A few seconds later the roadrunner jumped off of my car and the two of them scurried across the street together.

We often live our lives on autopilot, with hectic and stressful days being typical. Being surprised by the roadrunner was a wonderful surprise. It reminded me of the importance of getting more exercise, and how fortunate I am to be able to walk in a beautiful setting that is home to many forms of wildlife.