Butch’s funeral was a time of remembering with family and friends. It also was a time of seeing once again what a united family Butch had created in his 58 years of marriage. 
Red foxAt the lunch following the funeral, our table of neighborhood friends was the last to get up and go. But it wasn’t over. Donna and I visited my daughter, my sister, and Butch’s wife and talked for hours with each at their houses. A good get-together. While there, I also had to visit the old neighborhood and a nature spot at the old Soldier’s Home a couple blocks from home where I often went as a preteen just before sunrise to see the great blue heron fly in and settle among the ducks and geese on the shallow lake. It was the same as ever. The heron was resting on a little island of grass, stretching a wing as part of preening. The lake and the surrounding forested cemetery was also a place I saw a lot of other birds, including my first broad-winged hawk. But on this trip it was a different kind of hawk. A red-tailed hawk flew close and spread its wings to swoop to the side just as I clicked its picture.
Great blue heron with mallards
Next, it was driving home on pretty roads through the beautiful Upper Peninsula with leaves beginning to turn and sugar maple leaves in their full glory.
 Michigan Road |
 Sugar maple |
Finally, back home, the overlook a couple miles from the WRI was more beauty—aspens and birches in a bright broad view I’m glad we didn’t miss. Then, at the WRI cabin Donna and I were greeted by an animal I hadn’t seen all summer. I sat down at my desk to check emails and soon saw this fox was looking in the window. It joined me at the door where I gave it some bologna and mini-muffins. While it was off caching them, I put some bologna and muffins by the window. Soon it was collecting three pieces of bologna and a muffin in one mouthful to go cache. I’m glad to see him back. RC and her son River put in a brief appearance when I wasn’t by the camera.
Overlook
A good trip and a good return. It was hard to get back to work, though, with so many memories of Butch and the adventures we had growing up like brothers. In the funeral service, I felt honored when the pastor related a story Butch often told of a bear adventure he had with me. I’m thankful for the memories.
And I’m thankful for all YOU do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center