Close Encounter with a Heron

About a year ago, I took a path through some agricultural pasture. I was exhausted from work, longingly missing my bed and fridge. My 40 minute commute was threatening to turn into a 60 minute one, if I would not hurry to my bus. And as I was passing by a free-standing garage, I saw a bird standing proudly on top. It was a heron, towering over the landscape on its unnaturally elevated position.…