FOR THE LOVE OF BAMBI

I woke up the other morning to find a pair of Bushnell Binoculars sitting on the kitchen table.... this could only mean one thing... the dreaded hunting season was near.

For as long as I can remember I have had an acute love for all animals (excluding insects, spiders or snakes).  That could actually be an understatement - it's nearly a sickness how I want to save all animals, will swerve out of the way for a mouse crossing the road kind of love.

This type of animal obsession started soon after birth I'm sure.  I acquired the "crazy cat lady" status at at the age of 7 - my cat 'Mooney' had 2 large litters within 6 months ... instead of me having to find them homes I begged to keep them all!  Our household consisted of my parents, two younger brothers, and myself with my cat family - 1 mama cat and 11 kittens (looking back I now understand why our neighbours hated us)!  One day enough was enough (according to my parents).... It was the annual Corn & Apple festival parade, I was 7 years old, my mom dressed me in a pretty white dress and showed me my new pink 'powder puff' wagon all done up in lace and blankets for my kittens to sleep in.  I was going to be in the parade to show off my cat family!!  Little did I know that there was a sign on the back of the wagon that read - Kittens for Sale: $1... it was the saddest day of my life.

After living in Calgary through my 20somethings my animal love sickness got stronger - seasonal trips to Banff to see the wildlife instead of snowboarding, trips through the mountains which included several stops to look at the elk, and me trying to convince my friends they can now refer to me as the 'Animal Whisperer'.  We would go to the zoo and every time I would scheme how we could free the animals - of course this plan was never actioned - although it usually did take up at least 2 hours of conversation and some mean plotting skills.  Now looking back I really hope I didn't ruin anyone's Zoo experience.

When I made the decision to move to small town southern Manitoba it was a twisted case of my animal loving soul marrying a hunter at heart.   What I thought would be exposure to true wildlife, became exposure to country road signs with shot gun holes in them.  From stories of beautiful peaceful Bambi's; to play-by-plays of the last big hunt.  From skeet shooting at a gun range; to gopher shooting in a farmers field.  From saving the baby robin that fell out of the nest; to pigeon shooting in a run down barn.

With the upcoming hunting season on my heals I have been left with one choice..... to bring my Zoo plotting skills into action!

OPERATION: For the love of Bambi - Plan of action:

1.  Make Hubs watch Bambi with me before the hunting trip (full on drama tears and ugly cry - coming up!)

2.  Loosen up his scope (I heard a story of my friend doing this to his cousin and it worked - I high fived him for that)

3.  Pull out my best acting skills, ask to go on the hunting trip with him - and then right before he takes the shot scream as loud as I can for the deer to run (which is probably why I haven't been inviting - him knowing that I would actually do this)!

That should do it!  Wish me luck!

PS - if you have any other ideas that might work - please leave me a comment - xx