Arden Ellen Nixon
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The Story of Frenchie
🕑 Added 2025-06-03 20:46:59 +0000 UTCDuring the pandemic, I essentially lived at the largest cemetery nearby, enjoying long daily hikes. It was honestly a magical time. The animal residents rejoiced in the lack of people and were at their most playful and fearless--the foxes grew outright dismissive of the rare human presence!
So peaceful was it in that, in 2021, a pregnant doe decided the cemetery was the perfect place to birth and raise her fawn. The doe, alas, fell victim to one of the busy streets on either side of the cemetery, but her fawn grew to adulthood within its sheltered world. She played with the foxes; was fed by the few cemetery regulars and crew; and followed me within touching distance (I didn't pet her, tempting as it was) for one whole morning.
Meet Frenchie.
Why Frenchie?
Orson Welles jokes abound in our house. Thanks to Pinky and the Brain basing Brain in large part on Orson Welles, my husband and I set about consuming his media, only to have it consume us.
Case in point: Orson Welles, Former Street Cat (TM).
We've watched Welles' films, listened to his spectacular radio plays (that voice!), and laughed at the slew of "Must pay those back taxes" commercial saved on YouTube. Our wifi handle is thanks to one such commercial; Frenchie owes her name to another. I present to you, "Aaaah, the French!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFevH5vP32s
Thanks to said commercial, "Frenchie" was the name that leapt first to mind when it became clear that the orphaned fawn was staying, safe and secure within the cemetery. We wondered what would happen when she reached adulthood; as is the circle of life, she struck out on her own. One day she was just gone. No trace, no sad carcass--THANKFULLY--on the street that had claimed her mother, just the memory of a magical year with the tamest of deer. My husband and I like to joke that she met a dashing young buck and eloped to Vegas; after coming to her senses, she got an annulment and moved to Brownville, Maine to live in comfort by the deer food pantry.
https://www.youtube.com/@BrownvillesFoodPantryForDeer
And now you know the origin of the deer and setting in "Carpe Diem."
Black squirrels also frequent the cemetery, hence inclusion here.
This piece isn't done yet, though it's close! My hands need a day to rest before filling in the gold scroll work. Then I'll know how best to paint the smoke and will finish with Frenchie's eyes--as is tradition, eyes are always the last touch.
May you all be well and wonderful!
