Theft

A few years back I found a rather curious object in my backyard. I should start by saying that my backyard at the time was a small fenced in area (about 20'x20') located in the Georgetown section of Washington, DC. There was a small utility shed on the edge of our property, where the land of the house met with the land of Rock Creek Park (or the tail end of the park that connects to Rock Creek Park, DC is not always clear about such things).

I was walking to the edge of our property and I came across a full intact deer antler. It was somewhat small although it looked as though the antler had simply fallen off the deer's head and landed on the ground next to the shed. I was pleased to find this antler, mostly because I had grown up on Vermont and never really had much to do with Deer. After posing with the antler for a few pictures to send to my parents I decided to place the antler on one of the front steps to my apartment, next to some of the potted flowers my wife kept there.

Months past and each time I went in and out of the house, or checked the mailbox which hung next to the door, I would notice the antler and feel a little twinge of that pleasure at finding such a strange and wonderful object in the middle of a city. Why I kept it outside I am not really sure. Our apartment was somewhat small and although the antler itself was clean it seemed to me that bringing it inside would somehow violate some rule or code. I am being abstract here because the feeling I had about the antler was it must stay outside. My thoughts about this were very simple and direct, it must be kept outdoors. Why this was, I am unsure.

About six months ago I noticed the antler was missing. I was sad to see that someone had taken it but I was not angry. Time went on and the notion that someone had stolen this antler bothered me more and more. Partly because the object was of not material worth and the theft of something that is without material worth troubles me. It also troubles me that in a place like DC, where seeing deer should be so odd and strange to its residents, the people there (our neighbors are the only people I can really speak about with certainty) seemed oblivious to these animals.

On numerous occasions deer would come into our backyard and the backyards of our next-door neighbors. Each time my wife and I noticed this, whether we were inside or out-of-doors, we would stop and watch them. Many times we would see our neighbors, in their own yards or on their porches ignoring the deer as they grazed or lay about in the late afternoon sun. We always found it odd they they were completely indifferent to these animals but since we were not we then ignored the neighbors who ignored the deer that we enjoyed so much.

I write all of this as a way of trying to explain my complete vexation over this theft. I can imagine quite easily that it was some young teenage boy, alone or with his friends, who saw the antler and felt taking it would be amusing or fun or just something to do. I imagine that the antler was discarded a block or two away when the boy tired of playing with it and attempting threatening gestures that his friends pretended not to find funny. Or perhaps some delivery person saw it and just took it because it looked interesting. My point with these imagined scenarios to rather silly: I am very pleased to no longer live in a place where such a thing is likely.

Two weeks ago my wife and I moved to Maine. Since then we have met our neighbors, gone for walks and runs (saying hello and receiving greetings in return from all those we meet) and done so many things that life in a small town affords.

This is probably not a very interesting entry and it certainly is not a good essay but I would very much like to start over now that I am in a new setting and seeing the world with altered eyes. I am thinking that my lofty idea of only putting great writing on this site is a waste, since no one really is reading it and because I have not been motivated to do so. I will try to keep matters interesting and brief. All I can really hope to do is keep writing though.