When I come upstate for a visit, I tease my parents and tell them I’m only there to see the animals. It’s not really true - it’s nice to return to the homestead and the old order of things, but there’s nothing like a herd of goats prancing up to greet you to set your priorities straight.

I came up for a visit this past weekend, with a bunch of my city friends in tow, and as always, the goat field was Stop Number One. The herd is 14 strong right now, all little Nigerian Dwarfs of varying ages and attitudes. Their leader – her name is Daphne – patrols the group from afar while the others vie for attention, nudging our hands, stepping up on our boots, sticking their little noses right up close.

I tell people that goats are every bit as loving as dogs and they look at me like I’m nuts, but I’m telling you, they remember me visit to visit, they know me. They’re discerning and affectionate, I swear they are. My sister said it best – “What I find very special about animals in your life is that they’re so much more like us than most people would like to think. If you get down on their level, actual eye level and see the way they see, you’ll realize.”

I love watching this happen with my city friends. At first, they’re a little nervous as the goats swarm them, ever so curious, sniffing hair, nibbling zippers. But after 15 minutes, my friends are down in the mix, exclaiming at how "this one’s so pushy" and "that one’s just a sweetheart." As we got up to go inside, my friend Fiona lamented leaving all these "tiny awesome people" behind.

Now we’re verging on "crazy goat lady" land. Calling goats people is a little out there, but I’ve caught myself saying it a few times. My favorite goat, Sugar, has a habit of seating herself daintily next to me and staring off into the distance, totally Zen, filled with knowledge of the cosmos, I often say. I’m only half kidding.

Maybe I’m just a fanatic. Maybe I’m just pet-deprived in my teeny Manhattan apartment. But in the depths of Covid, my sister and I spent more time with those goats than we did human beings, and they remain our little treasures. This picture says it all.