Letters from Katy Newman: Haunted by the dear deer

Katy is among the many Torch Lake Township residents who have two homes, one here and one Downstate or in Florida or in Ohio of all places.  Katy has been Downstate recently, and has been taking pictures of the deer in her suburban yard.

First she wrote, These are some of my suburban deer that keep me yearning for the REAL deer Up North:

I am enjoying your posts. They truly make every day one of passion and inspiration.  [Ed.  I wasn’t going to put that part in, but when someone says something that nice about you, you want to sneak it into conversation.]

A few days later she wrote, I found out that a neighbor is putting out piles of corn for our dear deer . . . which will guarantee winter survival for the deer and the demise of all the expensive landscaping for the humans.  I made that throat clearing deer sound this morning and they all turned to look at me. 

I am attempting to install my Up North sensitivity to natural wonders right here in my own backyard. I do get marvelous bedroom sunrises . . . I am trying to reframe them to be as spiritually uplifting as Up North. What is there about that Place that is so magical? I think you may know the answer . . .

I do know why it’s magic, Katy. When I lived downstate and drove up here every weekend or so, I could feel the chains letting go as I passed the exit for West Branch. By the time I was in Kalkaska I was grinning like a fool. So . . . eventually I moved up here. I like it. However, the longer I live here, the more ordinary life becomes. The daily grind and the usual troubles moved here right along with me.

One Friday evening I came home from working in Traverse City and took Miss Sadie for a walk. We passed a cottage down the road where a group of people were sitting around a bonfire in the yard, relaxing after their long drive, having a little glass of wine, not even talking much, just looking out at the Bay. My heart caught in my throat. The scene represented everything I had lost by moving here. I knew exactly how those people felt, and longed to feel that way again myself – as if I had made good my escape! Real life just keeps on keeping on. It’s a good life, even better than the magic one, but I miss that feeling . . .