Just a Short Visit

 There are those friends that stay close even when they are far away.  These are the folks who can visit and pick up right where things left off with the last meeting.  Pretty much, these are the true friends.  They are the ones who fit right in with the moment and with whatever is happening.  There is no stress, no awkward silences, no having to become reacquainted.  They are just friends who are as close as family.

  Sometimes, friends can be of the critter ilk.  I have often said that I have more critter friends than I do human friends and that I fully prefer it that way.  Critter friends cause way less drama.  They come and go without ever changing.  Months can pass without even a glimpse then, suddenly, there they are like things are just the same.  

  This morning, an old friend passed our way and made me smile.  Mark and I spotted the old gator swimming across the Bay toward the Bayou.  The animal has grown to quite the massive size now and seems to be doing well.  Most folks would probably be a bit squeamish about sharing their space with an alligator but it only seems natural.  A bayou needs alligators!  It would not be a proper bayou otherwise.  Mark and I watched as the gator slipped silently through the water until it came to a small clump of marsh.  It then lingered there to watch us as we fished.  I suppose by morning, we will find that our crab traps have been raided but that, too, is only natural.  All in all, it was good to see our old friend.