Christmas 2009

Whenever things in my life start to go south, my mind strays towards the absurd. Hence the flamingo decorations. Looking at them now, I wonder what I was thinking. We have a family legend that things go badly in odd numbered years with Republican administrations. We had a Democratic administration, (or so it seems) so things didn't go too badly south this year. Mom needed serious surgery, but she is well recovered. My poor aunt died after a horrible and prolonged illness. I guess nothing saves either part of that, except that possibly she lives on in her lovely granddaughters and great-granddaughters which will soon number 1 more. I had spinal surgery, but I got very good advice from the oddest of places, and because of that, I am doing very well. Just before Thanksgiving, I got a call from my almost-life-long friend saying that her husband had died suddenly. Shocked and devastated, yet she is bearing it with grace and strength that she didn't know she had, but I always did. I spent Christmas Eve coughing and sneezing, hacking and wheezing to the point that I stayed home from our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. But, I was well enough to at least attend Christmas Day. I didn't get too close to the family. We won't even talk about how I was looking. Suffice to say, it's a good thing we don't have a formal Christmas dinner. Em did well to marshal the under-40 set to assist mom and BJ didn't need to be asked. I am always proud of my kids. I think it was the pain and anticipation of the spinal surgery that sent me over the edge. It could be worse, some people drink. I bake cookies and buy ridiculous lawn decorations. Next year, well, let's not make any promises.

And to all, a good night.

It Takes All Kinds

There is a plain boring species of bird called a cowbird. It is gray with a brown head. The cowbird lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. The cowbird chicks grow quickly, and may consume most of the food the host brings. If starvation does not kill the other birds' chicks, in some species the baby cowbird will use its large size to push the other chicks out of the nest. Other species of cowbirds simply share the nests. The other day, we were watching the birds when we saw a cardinal hen feeding a young chick. Cardinals will feed each other seeds in a very sweet manner, usually you see the mated pairs doing this in the spring. On closer inspection, it was obvious that this cardinal hen was not feeding a cardinal chick, but was clearly shepherding around a little almond shaped gray baby. If birds are self-aware, the chick probably wonders if it will be crested and red when it grows up. But for now, it was fluttering its wings happily and following its mom around. If the other birds looked oddly at Mr. and Mrs. C., they didn't seem to notice. Us mother hens must care for the chicks, just because they need to be cared for.

Winging It

We live not far from a bird sanctuary. This is, in actuality, a few acres of unimproved land. After 2 1/2 years we had seen a few interesting birds but just had not gotten around to looking for them. So I bought a bird feeder and watched helplessly as the first squirrel that came along dumped the entire contents of the feeder on the ground. After 5 pounds of birdseed became squirrel feed and there was not a bird in sight, I tried feeding the squirrels and the birds. I fed the squirrels and the squirrels and some chipmunks and a few birds. Then came the Yankee Flipper. Now only the smart squirrel eats from the feeder. We have been visited by a number of birds that I have never seen in these parts. Who knew they were here? We have seen cardinals and jays, goldfinches and chickadees, cowbirds and woodpeckers. They come in droves and then there's nothing, then they are back. Some gather together, some will only eat alone. Some come in pairs and one eats while the other watches. If you watch you can see. The Jays are the bully boys of the neighborhood. They fly in and everyone scatters. Like us, they are winging it.

Reflections

This was an incredibly inspiring day. The above picture was supplied, via cell phone, by my friend who was fortunate and brave enough to actually be there. Even though I had to work, I managed to re-arrange my schedule and went down to the lunch-room to watch the inauguration. My thoughts on this are many. I was amazed by the crowds. I was appalled that 34 words and Justice Roberts couldn't get it right?? I guess he gets nervous too. He should have rehearsed more. I kept thinking that Michelle must be cold and her feet must hurt. Why didn't she pick a warm coat? I'd have wanted to go home about an hour into it. I was also appalled by some of my colleagues who are apparently so narcissistic that they think whatever is walking through their minds is more important than these once in a life time events. I wouldn't want to attend a concert with many of them. I was also amazed at how many people, when walking into a room of silent people, glued to the words of our new president, felt the need to make some stupid pronouncement. I should have stayed home, which was my first impulse. I know that this was a first, because he's black, but he's also simply Barrack. There is something transcendent in the strength of his words, the strength of his ideas and the strength of his purpose. To be American was once a beautiful and special thing and it can be again. Mama loves Obama, and apparently, so does pretty much everyone else. He is who we are and who we want to be.