Is it better to die in pieces or all at once? I watch as mother and father deer get reports from doctor deer down by the pond of being healthy. Yet things are not the same. For years a deer progresses upward, refines a skill, flies a bit farther... then one day not so far, not as fast still good but something drifted away never to be retrieved. At first no big deer deal since plenty more after a life time of romping around, diving in the water or flying in the air.

Slowly despite the healthy reports mother and father deer give up some favorite activities small things at first then bigger things. Long trips become less frequent and roaming starts being only at the favorite spot. Realization that nothing can be done to make it better other than make it comfortable.

Should the mother and father deer find a fire spot and rage, rage at the dying of the light inside? Or do you just let it slowly envelope till no reason more to do or think? At that point what does progeny deer say.


A deer life well lead cannot go on forever so how do you exit ancient wise deer. What do you save and what do you let go. No dreaded deer disease, no dramatic heart attack no intense pain, just a very slow fading. Those deer together so long have long since merged into one so how does one become single again after so long paired? Lovely healthy gray parent deer enjoying simple sunbeams, the taste of food, the feel of a large velvet brown glade to nap in and the trickle of water.