Saturday afternoon, a bird flew right in to our bedroom window glass. I heard a loud “clunk” heading to the bathroom from the bedroom and immediately wondered what the cats had done now. Then coming back I saw detritus on the window where the bird struck, and peered at it struggling on our deck. I would have rushed right out except for the fact that I was naked and wearing a facial mask (for like the first time in forever!). I quickly took my shower, washed the mask off, and got dressed, the bird was still moving, but I noticed there was blood.
As I headed outside Jen came back from her walk. I showed her where it all happened and then she quickly “Googled” what we should do. I got a cardboard box out of the recycling. Following Jen’s instructions, I used gloves, my mask, and a paper towel to gently lift the injured sparrow into the box. We sparingly taped the lid shut, poked some holes, and then let it rest in the carport until the sun went down. We moved it into the mudroom for the night. The cats were very interested in that box to say the least. Neither of us held out much hope, but we left the boxed bird behind a closed door inside the relative safety of our home. The web site Jen found advised us to just leave it alone, checking perhaps every half hour. The bird had not stirred before we went to bed.
I
was restless. I felt so sorry for the critter. Sleep did not come easily
nor stay very long. And when it did, I had strange dreams. Birds have always carried super-natural implications. “There is special providence in
the fall of a sparrow,” kept running through my mind, a line from Hamlet so eloquently explained by Evan Robertson.
https://obviousstate.com/blogs/journal/there-s-a-special-providence-in-the-fall-of-a-sparrow
After
yoga and meditation on Sunday morning, I got dressed and ready to bury the poor thing. I
brought the box along with a shovel to a table on the deck. I swear I felt something move, but
thought that may just be wishful thinking. Then I carefully slit the tape and
opened the flaps of the box. I saw the birds tail fanned out, and then whoosh! It flew into
our oak tree. Jen watched the whole thing from the bedroom window and was so
elated she came out into the cool morning dew barefoot. My beautiful North
Carolina girl so happy to see a bird fly.
As
small prayers were answered, I subsequently went out into our garden and
harvested some green peppers and Serrano for our sausage and pepper supper
later on. In this bizarre year where everything and anything can and will happen, we feel so very blessed to live in such interesting times. Yet sorrow will temper joy.
This morning I found out a person who has been a mentor, a co-worker, a band mate, a friend passed away. I am deeply in mourning for the family and friends of Dennis "Denny" Randazzo who passed unexpectedly over the weekend. Family man, father, husband, craftsman, civil servant, sage, consummate musician, soulful wit, friend...to a person we are devastated by this news.
May all you readers find patience, resilience, and take a moment to pause and think of just how precious is each moment of this life.
MDR
