For about a month every year, starting now, the elk rut gathers steam here in the Rockies. Testosterone-crazed elk bulls seek females and mate. The males “bugle” to attract females. It’s an other-worldly, high-pitched call that echos through the valleys of Rocky Mt Nat Park. Later this afternoon as a park volunteer I will assist rangers who roam up and down the Kawuneeche Valley (“Valley of the Coyote”, named by the Arapaho nation, pron. “caw-wun-ee-chee”). We look for elk herds that may block traffic and assist the animals by stopping traffic temporarily and allowing them to cross the road. The skilled rangers also protect humans from themselves as many folks, wanting a good photo, put themselves in harm’s way, getting too close to the animals. As often as elk males display prowess and power and dominance, humans display abject stupidity. The park rangers do their best to prevent injury and harm to people who make careless decisions and underestimate the power of these magnificent, powerful, sex-crazed creatures.

Last night I went out on my balcony to listen for bugling. Yep — I could hear the male elk calling. It was magical and amazing, hearing nature play itself out. The calls were not close, but were clear.

Nature here in Colorado heals me. Whistling Yellow-bellied Marmots (who will hibernate in a few months), elk, deer and moose, chipmunks and ground squirrels, Osprey and Bald Eagles, Black-billed Magpies who collect peanuts I put outside in a dish, Robins, busy grasshoppers (so many of them right now). Snowshoe Hares that are now brown and turn white in winter — one was hopping around near my condo driveway the other morning. Aspen leaves turning golden and pink. Cooling nights. The gorgeous nearby lake with its friendly residents and perfect library. Rocky Mountain sounds and calls and beauty comfort me in my grief. These are powerful forces that surround me and I tell them thank you. It’s working. I am getting exactly what I’d hoped for when I made this crazy-ass move to this craggy, dramatic corner of the world.

[This painting was commissioned by a neighbor]