New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff

Watching Katie my 7 month old grand daughter today.

Friday 07/23/2004

Katie is sleeping in her crib as I gaze at her. Her so small fingers twitch suspended from her arm draped over a teddy bear. The arm wrestles with its own involuntary movements. I can't help but study this wonder before me though it is fruitless as her imagination and mine will never intercept. Hers will dream of far off places, events and changes that my 50 plus year old brain will never contemplate. She lays somewhat crossways in the crib in her mothers old bedroom. It was only yesterday it seems that my gaze was on Amy, though her crib was in the opposite side of the room.

Katie changes so much from week to week from when I see her. Still as with Amy we parents will guard and closely watch our offspring for most of our lives.

How different the wild things around us. Baby woodchucks born this spring are likely on their own by now as are the gray squirrel young. Foxes, fisher skunks and even otter and coyotes will have their young disperse to places unknown by late this fall.

I'm so glad that I was born a human to watch the clock of life tick minute by minute on our offspring. Dream on Katie!