Camped back on the bank of the Teanaway river. It was another lovely
evening, and I tried to get a few new water compositions. I did come up
with a couple of pleasing shots, but while I was engrossed in my
photography, Taz wandered off and out of sight. This is cougar country, and
because Cougars are pretty shy animals they are rarely spotted, but they
are here. Taz stands a foot tall and weighs just over 20 pounds (solid
muscle)...she would be easy picking. I nearly panicked when I called her and
she did not come. She never wanders off... she always stays really close...
my mind immediately started to race... what if she fell in the rapids...
what if a cougar snatched her... I hollered and whistled and then hollered
and whistled some more... no response. It took a couple of minutes,
but she finally came a running up the river bed... soaking wet, and
behaving as though she had been through a grand adventure. I think she was ever
so glad to be back with her people! Whew! Things like that just
completely make your heart stop for a moment or two. I cut the picture
making short tonight and felt happy to stand with my little dog,
endlessly flinging the frisbee into the fading evening light.