12/13/06
A Good Year
I had coffee with a lost friend today. We recently reconnected and it was the first time we a chance to sit down together to cover the last seven years. She told me she had declared 2006 a 'Good Year' because she hadn't lost any body parts.
Ain't cancer a bitch?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Ancient History: Beyond the Hedge; Morning crows
11/17/06
I was up before dawn today and as I sat in the window and watched the sky lighten I saw the crows, again. There were waves and waves of them and they flew very low again today, perhaps because of the wind and low clouds. I am fascinated.
I have made inquires. My neighbour says they spend their nights in the trees outside of the hospital complex north east of here which makes seems to sense from the direction of their dusk migration. She says it is very disconcerting to leave the hospital after dark. The trees seem alive with shadows and the crow s movements and the undertones of their voices. I want to go on a field trip.
I have heard a report of them congregated in trees south of here during the day. The good hunting I imagine to be the draw. The ground has been cleared and there is road construction in the area.
Another sighting places many crows at dusk, between here and the hospital, beside a semi deserted tennis court on the edge of a green belt. Overflow perhaps.
I love the word rookery, apparently it applies to European crows. The American crow is said to be secretive in its nesting habits. Not these. Research is required.
I was up before dawn today and as I sat in the window and watched the sky lighten I saw the crows, again. There were waves and waves of them and they flew very low again today, perhaps because of the wind and low clouds. I am fascinated.
I have made inquires. My neighbour says they spend their nights in the trees outside of the hospital complex north east of here which makes seems to sense from the direction of their dusk migration. She says it is very disconcerting to leave the hospital after dark. The trees seem alive with shadows and the crow s movements and the undertones of their voices. I want to go on a field trip.
I have heard a report of them congregated in trees south of here during the day. The good hunting I imagine to be the draw. The ground has been cleared and there is road construction in the area.
Another sighting places many crows at dusk, between here and the hospital, beside a semi deserted tennis court on the edge of a green belt. Overflow perhaps.
I love the word rookery, apparently it applies to European crows. The American crow is said to be secretive in its nesting habits. Not these. Research is required.
Ancient History; Beyond the Hedge; Fear
11/27/06
Fear
When I was a kid I was afraid of heights, very afraid.
We had a little footbridge over a dry ditch. I couldn't cross it.
When I rode in a car I laid down on the floor of the back seat as we drove over high bridges.
Fear has a colour.
It is grey, a frightening green tinged grey.
Fear has a feeling. When seated it is a flash of fire in the thighs above and beside the knees. The energy dissipates in a flash that circles the belly and leaves it aching.
My fear of heights has re-awakened. My belly hurts.
Fear
When I was a kid I was afraid of heights, very afraid.
We had a little footbridge over a dry ditch. I couldn't cross it.
When I rode in a car I laid down on the floor of the back seat as we drove over high bridges.
Fear has a colour.
It is grey, a frightening green tinged grey.
Fear has a feeling. When seated it is a flash of fire in the thighs above and beside the knees. The energy dissipates in a flash that circles the belly and leaves it aching.
My fear of heights has re-awakened. My belly hurts.
Ancient History: Beyond the Hedge; Morning Vision
10/17/06
Morning Vision
I floated upward from sleep and parted the clouds of my slumber. Feet planted on the smooth chilly bedside floor, I tested and rose to a wavering stand. Before me, the window was curtained fast. I reached out and parted the curtains.
The dawn sky was the colour of a flamingo's dreams. The crows, reversing their sunset migration, were arising from their secret places. A torrent of crows winged forth to the early morning skies. Their flight plan had them start low and then rise rapidly, directly over my house. It was as if I could reach out and touch their iridescent undercarriages.
I crouched down and sank back onto the bed. I closed my eyes to remember. Forever.
Morning Vision
I floated upward from sleep and parted the clouds of my slumber. Feet planted on the smooth chilly bedside floor, I tested and rose to a wavering stand. Before me, the window was curtained fast. I reached out and parted the curtains.
The dawn sky was the colour of a flamingo's dreams. The crows, reversing their sunset migration, were arising from their secret places. A torrent of crows winged forth to the early morning skies. Their flight plan had them start low and then rise rapidly, directly over my house. It was as if I could reach out and touch their iridescent undercarriages.
I crouched down and sank back onto the bed. I closed my eyes to remember. Forever.
Ancient History: Beyond the Hedge; Gallant
10/12/06
Gallant
My hero
I was first to the bus stop. In time to see the butt end of the bus fading away. I closed my umbrella and stepped into the empty shelter. Moments later Cynthia stepped into the shelter after peering up the road into the headlights and drizzle.
"We missed it" I said as she removed her plastic rain hat and smoothed her hair. I moved over indicating the bench but she shook her head.
Nadia rounded the corner and nodded to me as she reached to hug her neighbour. I faded away into the drizzle and headlights as they talked about Nadia's twin teens and Cynthia's trip home, to the Caribbean.
A man with a heavy leather brief case peeked into the shelter from under a plaid golf umbrella. We began to rearrange ourselves but he shook his head and reaching inside placed his brief case on the floor away from the puddles. As the sky lightened he stood outside, shifting his weight from foot to foot. I wondered about his choice of foot wear for such a wet morning. His shoes were a woven leather and seemed out of synch with his conservative business clothing.
The headlights of the bus became visable and I judged the severity of the rainfall against the inconvenience of having a dripping umbrella on a crowded bus and kept my umbrella closed. Nadia stepped out of the shelter. The gentleman put his umbrella over her head but she stepped out from under it. Undeterred, he turned to Cynthia who took his arm. He helped her up the single stair onto the bus. I stepped forward towards the but in the now pouring rain. He turned back for me, picking up his brief case as he did. We walked across the sidewalk together, under the shelter of his umbrella, and I mounted the bus ahead of him.
I felt the glow of my smile at his chivalry long after the raindrops had dried.
Ancient History: Beyond the Hedge;The Lonely Only
10/3/06
The Lonely Only
I spent a lot of my childhood alone, looking out the window, waiting. "Children are to be seen and not heard" was a frequently repeated theme of my early childhood. So as I waited quietly, I observed.
The best observation post the year I was five was behind the curtain looking out the dining room window. It was out of sight but not out of earshot and had a magical view of the neighbour's wonderful overgrown garden which was filled with holly trees, the friendly chirping of wet sparrows, joyous robins , and wandering cats.
Other years, other windows.
One window somewhere, some year, was home to many lady bird bugs. I remember their earthy odour and the warmth of the sunny window where they congregated .
My favourite white t-shirt was a Lady Bird brand t-shirt. I didn't get to wear it often enough for my liking and I can remember being helped into it one lucky morning. After surfacing from the confusion of armholes and neck hole I happily recited~
"Lady bird, lady bird fl-y away home, your house is on fire, and your children are alone."
"We don't leave children alone" my mother said.
The Lonely Only
I spent a lot of my childhood alone, looking out the window, waiting. "Children are to be seen and not heard" was a frequently repeated theme of my early childhood. So as I waited quietly, I observed.
The best observation post the year I was five was behind the curtain looking out the dining room window. It was out of sight but not out of earshot and had a magical view of the neighbour's wonderful overgrown garden which was filled with holly trees, the friendly chirping of wet sparrows, joyous robins , and wandering cats.
Other years, other windows.
One window somewhere, some year, was home to many lady bird bugs. I remember their earthy odour and the warmth of the sunny window where they congregated .
My favourite white t-shirt was a Lady Bird brand t-shirt. I didn't get to wear it often enough for my liking and I can remember being helped into it one lucky morning. After surfacing from the confusion of armholes and neck hole I happily recited~
"Lady bird, lady bird fl-y away home, your house is on fire, and your children are alone."
"We don't leave children alone" my mother said.
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