A Mother's Kiss—what else could you call this priceless image?

It was a beautiful warm July day in Sequim, Wash. and we were taking a drive through an animal park—the same park in which the “Grizzly Adams” bear “Ben” lived for many years. In fact, the park is a “retirement home” for Disney live-animal characters.

This deer, of course, wasn´t a retired actress but a loving mother with her young fawn. I was trying to click away and also trying to enjoy the day with my husband and a friend who joined us for the weekend in the “rain shadow” of the Olympic National Rain Forest (check out Sequim and you will know why it has that nickname).

This was another one of those pure-luck shots that I seem to get once in a while—boy could I tell countless stories about “the one that got away”! I never know what I really have until the prints are developed, since I am a traditional photographer (when it comes to cameras, at least).

This mother was so careful, so gentle—but you can see that in the shot. I loved this image so much that I used it in my card line for a Mother´s Day card in 2003.