I visited with Daddy yesterday. He’s struggling with his lung cancer but is very brave in the midst of it. It is good to be with him.
A pair of cliff swallows built a nest on his porch some weeks ago. We’ve been watching them ever since. Daddy has been very respectful of them, even though they make a mess on his porch. He goes through his garage door whenever possible so as not to disturb them.
Whenever I visit, I attempt to photograph the babies. They don’t seem to mind. Yesterday when I arrived, I went to the porch because the garage door was closed. I looked up and saw all the babies perched on the eave beside their nest. They had not yet flown.
I went in the house to greet Daddy, then got my camera. I didn’t want to startle the babies into early flight so I changed the setting on the camera to no flash. I went back to the porch while daddy watched from just inside the door. The moment I snapped the photo, with no sound and no flash, all the babies flew! Daddy shrieked his delight.
I ran out and watched the babies soaring above me with ease, then returned to the porch to give Daddy a hand down the stairs so he, too, could see. We watched for several minutes as the babies circled above us, delighted by their strength, ease, and grace. I was worried that I had startled them into flight too soon but several hours later they returned to the nest.
It’s a miracle to watch such vulnerable little babies grow, then fly. It’s a gift to share that miracle with my Daddy.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
o Carla, these brief moments are truly the greatest of gifts, thank u for sharing them. i got a phone call yesterday that my dad passed on. am remembering my brief moments and as usual am so grateful for the reminder.
much love lady
It is so true – when someone dear has passed, it’s those little, miraculous moments that you remember over and over and your heart smiles. Of all the memories with my beloved mother, one keeps bringing me grins and laugh-out-loud moments. Doggedly frugal and practical, she lectured me endlessly about the virtues of filling up my own car with gas (up north there was an option to let someone else deal with the grimy, smelly stuff!) One night after a wonderful dinner out together, she decided to show me how easy it is and spilled gasoline all over herself, proving my point. We laughed so hard at the irony that we both ended up sitting on the pavement for close to an hour with tears running down our cheeks before we could contain ourselves, much to the amusement of other gas patrons. By the way, she never bugged me about self-serve gas again – and then I moved south and had no choice, much to her delight I’m sure! I get to grin and laugh now every time I fill up, saying “Happy now, Mom?”.
It’s that moment that finally overcame the sorrow and anguish of her last days with Alzheimers in my memories of her, as I know this moment, and other moments you will share with your Daddy, will do for you. Thanks for sharing. I’m snickering out loud again remembering my mother’s hysterical laughter in her gas soaked out-to-dinner frock!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
Hello Carla. I can relate to your situation, since my husband has COPD/Emphysema . I have found that once you become seriously ill, although you may have enjoyed the simple pleasures of nature, you come appreciate them more. I was touched as you told how your father is respectful of the little ones’ space. My husband has always been a lover of nature, but now, I find he is more tender hearted toward all that encompasses nature.
I love your snap shot, and it is so nice to know that you are a Mystic photographer, which means you have the “eyes” of a Mystic. I am one as well, but photography . . . I don’t know, I just never got the hang of it.
One more thing, as a Hospice worker, I am very touched by how kind you are to your father. Many children have not faced their own mortality, so they have problems attending to their parents’ needs during a serious illness. God bless you darlin’.
Thank you, Friends, for sharing so kindly and intimately with me. Namaste to each of you!