Blue Companion

While enjoying an evening walk at Devil's Lake last week, Larry and I thought we were alone.  We stopped momentarily to take in the spectacular view of the lake, the setting sun reflecting on the water, when all of a sudden we heard fluttering.  A lone Great Blue Heron that had been enjoying the evening in the tall grasses that dotted the water's edge was disturbed by our company and flew away just a few yards down the lake.  Seeing the heron up close was a treat.  They're majestic, beautiful birds, comprised primarily of long legs, an equally long neck and gigantic wings.  As it flapped furiously, it stretched out its legs and neck and flew right past us.  We wanted to follow the bird to examine it even more closely, but decided that our blue companion preferred a solo experience.  A few evenings later when we were at the lake, once again, our blue companion was there along the water's edge.  And once again, it flew away from us.  This time, however, it eventually stood still allowing us to get closer, to observe, I would imagine, if we were friend or foe.  Larry, the heron and I all stood there in silence for a while, studying each other.  We may have looked different from each other, but we were really quite the same, each enjoying a lovely evening at Devil's Lake.