Spirit Guide

Thursday, July 17th
Oceanside, CA

Morning on the way to a hotel breakfast, saw a cute little doge playing with a ball in the middle of the road. Whose pet is this, and how come it's by itself? Except as I approached, it became apparent the ball he was playing with wasn't a ball, it was a groundhog. The doge was actually a playful young coyote.

Coyote pup was trotting along the street, all swag and smiles. He crossed as he pleased when he wanted to run about.

In my childhood, I was this coyote. I am him now and again in moments of happiness.

He rolled on the grassy sidewalk, rubbing his muzzle and backside happily. Such freedom, such independence. I am young and capable. I do what I want because I am fit, and of sound mind. My nature is good, and I am healthy.

'No Trespassing' signs? Can't read those. Don't know what they talkin bout, won't affect me.

Traffic on the road? No sweat, I hear them coming from a mile away. I'm no dumb poodle that runs under moving wheels.

Look, man. I don't need your leashes and rules and orders. I'm a coyote. Let me show you how I roll.

I leap onto a mound, scare a groundhog with my paw. Chase him out his burrow then I catch him with my jaws.

I trot along a sidewalk carefree as can be. I'm an alpha predator (but not cocky), nobody chasing me.

I wrastle the gentle lawn, rolling my nose on cool grass.

There's a yellow man watching, let me show him I run real fast.

I go up to him with a grin and say catch me if you can.

I bound down the sidewalk, and double back to this silly howling man.

He follows me slowly with his bicycle as I romp and saunter and run.

He don't scare me one bit. I'm racing just for fun.

Coyote heads to a sweeping hillside. From a trail above, an unleashed dog spots the coyote and the dog gives chase. Coyote is smaller. He runs, but not out of fear - he seen the dog days before the dog saw him. Coyote just doesn't want to hurt his dumb pursuant. Dog looks slightly faster but the coyote is ahead. I lose sight of them over the crest of a hill. The owner who just traversed the crest trail turns back defeated to retrieve his rover.

I want to follow this coyote but there's no path up over the hill. So, I ride down a slope the way I came and detour around and up a big incline to catch him on the other side.

When I get to high ground fifteen minutes later, the owner his car and his dog are nowhere to be found. But I see the coyote come trotting my way and I am happy. Not a scratch on him and no angry dog owner with mangled dog after him howling for blood. I feel like I am with the coolest kid in school. Where we going next, coyote?

He forays. I follow. He digs and sniffs. I admire. He runs a lap. I chase with my eyes. Employees drive past on their way to work at nearby biopharm complex. Can they tell it's a wild coyote and I'm a gazing tourist? Or does it seem like we are somehow connected? That he could possibly be my pet, or instead that we are equals?

Coyote spends some relaxation time in a field. I can see his ears poking out barely over yellow grass. I feel separated from him. I give a few howls. Coyotes don't howl? He piques his ears one time then shows no interest. I lay my bicycle down so I can join him in the field. He hears the stir and he's wanting play again. Up the sidewalk, cross the street, up over a slope bigger than the first, and gone.

I have to make another wide ascending detour to rendezvous with coyote. This time, however, his destination is a mystery to me. I lose him over the hill and despite a thorough combing of the crest I cannot see where he went.

What if he turned back down the hill? He could play this game with me all day without losing a breath, but I am gassed. "What? Oh it's you, human. You're still playing this game with me? Hehe, okay. I'm going over here now. See you in two hours. :)" I need a breakfast, coyote. Hope I run into you again.