In a rut

Autumn’s splash is becoming evident on the farm. Scarlet, yellow, burgundy, and countless other hues speckle the trees and appear in varied intensities.  A tease before November’s bleak landscape.

Yes, love is in the air!

The annual courtship rituals of Odocoileus virginianus – commonly known as the White-Tailed Deer are beginning. Scrapes (mauled spots of ground scented with a territorial stag’s urine) and rubs (denuded tree limbs where bucks scrape the “velvet” from their antlers and leave scent trace from apocrine sweat glands found in the forehead) are increasingly evident. These scent markers issue challenges to rival males as well as act as a sort of Valentine card to potential mates. This behavior coincides with the rut – a period of happy concupiscence that also features swollen necks and spectacular antler to antler smack downs to establish dominance.

This week, I enjoyed a reunion with a couple of friends from my hometown of Monroe, Michigan. Joan was a classmate beginning in first grade; Katie, a friend since high school. We met in downtown Ann Arbor at Gratzi, a longstanding fixture on Main Street. After a couple of rounds accompanied by Pizza Margarita (reputedly named in honor of Margherita Maria Teresa Giovanna, Queen consort of the Kingdom of Italy ca. 1878-1900) we headed a half block north to The Black Pearl – a newer, trendy nightspot.

Both of these women were stunning and popular when I knew them in my salad days and both retain their beauty today. We traded updates on our lives, looked at pictures of their children and grandchildren, and shared memories of “the good old days.”

One related story remembered an early and laughable attempt on the part of about six or eight of us to play spin-the-bottle. As best as we could piece together, this likely happened during our sixth grade year. My memory of this introductory rite of passage was foggy at first, but became keener as I heard Joan’s recollection. Apparently, no one had a bottle, so we attempted to play while spinning a hair brush. I do remember that the first spin by M_____ landed on E____ who immediately refused to kiss M_____ and left. Poor M_____.

Joan then related that I had attempted to compliment her during this gathering with a less than an effective line. Apparently, I told her that her hair was really nice and shiny and that it shined like it was greasy. DOH!

After telling me how that was a devastating blow to her young esteem, Joan very generously assured that, in retrospect, she knew it was simply an awkward (though well intentioned) line from a young geeky grade school boy.

But just in case, she added, she did rewash her hair that afternoon before we met at Gratzi!

I don’t know if that was the apex of the evening’s laughter, but I do know it was great spending time with friends from that part of my life. I do think, however, I may have been better off rubbing my forehead on a tree trunk than using lines like that in sixth grade!



Deer image reported as in the public domain and can be found at:  http://www.reusableart.com/v/animals/deer/deer-image-05.jpg.html