Hail to Thee, Bright Spirit!

As is my custom, I grabbed my umbrella and went walking up the hill to visit a favorite tree. I got there, took some photos, and then stopped and twirled my umbrella in the road; took a selfie. Looked at my own face; realized my hair was doing funny things in the rain. Yikes. No sharing on that selfie!

I looked down onto the road and suddenly I spotted a tiny, bright-colored fellow traveler: a red eft! The terrestrial, walkabout form of the eastern spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens. Apparently, they are just LOVING this rain.

The newt and I were making our separate little voyages on Tow Hill, when our paths crossed. It was in the middle of the road, and I moved it off to the grass along the side. This may also officially be one of the brightest colored newts I have ever seen! It was practically glowing. It was also rather small.

I picked the newt up gently with one hand and placed it into the other hand. It started to wiggle, crawled up my hand. And then - "I'm outta here!" cried the newt, as it flung itself up out OVER my hand and landed on the grass. (This is exactly why, as a rescuer, you should transport your newt as low as possible.)

That is when I took this photo. I was checking to make sure it was okay, but didn't want to touch it again if I didn't have to. Clearly, not unlike Doc Holliday, the newt didn't like being pawed at, thank you very much. Turns out it was just fine, and so I bid the newt, "Well met!" and headed back on down the road to home.

Our soundtrack song is Timbuk 3, with The Future's So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades). Which, of course, took me back to this silly-happy memory. :-)

Signed,
The Newt Transporter ;-)

Fellow transporters, you know the rules:
The deal is the deal.
No names.
Never open the package!