I’ve been spending too much time at my desk, behind a screen. My head & eyes have both been begging me to quit. But I’ve been so excited for our upcoming ND2020. I’ve been putting in more hours than usual getting it all ready for next week.

Still, all work & no play makes Toiny a very dull girl. When my best travel buddy pinged me & begged for a local nature walk, away from people, just us (and Tess), I caved. I did need to stretch my legs, get some fresh air, and clear my mind. Yesterday Tess & I piled into Wade, daypacks into the back & drove to meet her.

It was my favorite kind of day; sunny with a sprinkling of clouds & temperatures in the low 70’s. The kind of day where I can walk & walk & walk without getting hot or cold. The kind of day that’s the Mama Bear of days (the Goldilocks Mama Bear).

Germany is nothing if not beautiful. It’s always green, though even more so in Spring & Summer. Knowing that this land was the inspiration for many fairytales is always in the back of my mind. I both feel like I’m in a fairytale, there is so much beauty all around me, and I feel like the Big Bad Wolf could jump out at any time.

I’m always on guard. Yesterday though, for the first time, I felt a little anxious. My senses were heightened. I felt there was… something. I felt eyes on me. Maybe I subsconsciously heard an inconsistency in the rustling of the trees & bushes around me. A rustling that didn’t quite match the sound of the wind gently ruffling the leaves.

Yet everytime I turned around, there was nothing there. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Or was there? Tess finally got the bright idea to take a selfie & see what was in the hiding in the background. That is when we spotted it. A small green dot. Barely there, but there.

We played hide & seek. He played stalk. Finally, after hours of games, he gave up. He couldn’t do it anymore. He couldn’t keep up with us. Really, he couldn’t climb up those high, high stairs. I gave up pretending that I didn’t see him, reach down & picked him up. The battle was lost. I’d won & the tables had turned.

My stalker is now my prisoner. I take him out only for me. He is there to amuse me. To make me happy. Even now he’s right here, bringing a smile to my face.

Do you see what we see?
Pretty sneaky!
Something is out of place.
I must be walking too slow, he’s getting close!
Green is not your friend in this section of trees.
Better. But I see you!
Getting bold, we are.
I. SEE. YOU!
Honestly, I think he’s playing peek-a-boo!
Hahahaha! He gave up! MINE!
We all deserve a tall, cool, drink.
Introducing… The Child!
Look! He’s smiling!
He’s sulking. He wanted to drive. Sigh.