Maternal Instincts

Ran one of my favorite trails early this morning. Overcast sky, cool, not cold. Perfect conditions. The trail, that starts up my neighbor's driveway in a grove of eucalyptus, is only 2.2 miles round trip but I could run back and forth on it all day without getting bored. I walk uphill from my house, then run along the rolling single track getting a full body workout as I jump over roots and rocks, swerve away from poison oak branches, and duck under low hanging trees. There are narrow, washed out areas where I have to step gingerly along the loose dirt, and spots that are blanketed with tiny, dry, fallen leaves, so as not to slip and roll into the stickers of a blackberry bush. I have two favorites on the trail, one man made, a bridge and stairway, the other a natural tunnel of a gnarled, mossy tree. There are still wildflowers along the route and I run past a grass that must be called rattlesnake grass because it looks and sounds like a rattlers tail. 
What does all this have to do with maternal instincts? I certainly have few myself. I never played with dolls, never liked baby sitting, never wanted kids. But on the trail this morning maternal instincts were in full display by others. I got dive bombed by a humming bird. I know they are small but a humming bird flapping it's wings 80 beats per second right by your ear is disconcerting to say the least. I had just watched the tiny mama chase away a bird 10 times her size and then she came after me. Next, two blue jays squawked angrily at me and fluttered their wings as I ran by and on my return trip a wild turkey started to chase me, gobbling away. There are baby deer everywhere so I guess it stands to reason that other creatures are out protecting their young. I'm just thankful I didn't run into any mama mountain lions or coyotes. 
That's the way I like to start my weekend. Loving life.