Bird

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I spend most of my social media time on Instagram. It occurred to me recently, that, while there is some overlap of readers of IG @josephina.ballerina and this blog, said overlap is perhaps not great. Therefore, starting today, I shall make dual posts if it seems appropriate. I’ve been participating in August Break 2018 over on IG. A daily prompt is published, to be followed by a photo and some thoughts based on the prompt by whoever wishes to play along. I’ve met a lot of nice people from all over the world by doing a couple of these a year over the last couple of years.  Today’s prompt was: Bird.

August Break 2018
Day 29 Bird
November 5, 2016. These three beautiful Black Vultures (a mama and two juveniles) had just landed on this roof. I had walked outside and was looking at the lovely clear blue sky, when, from out of that clear blue sky -quite literally- I was enveloped in a Sudden Almighty Thumping *WHOOSH* as mama took off from her perch on the archway of the building Behind me. Of course had No Idea Whatsoever I was being watched from behind by a party of three! She swooped five feet over my head then sailed up onto this peak directly in front of me. Then, as I was coming up out of my duck, gaping in surprise and delight, it happened twice more in quick succession as her two babies followed. It was funny to watch because, although they were almost as large, they were not nearly as graceful as mama. At all. As in they kept sliding backwards down the roof after landing. The memory still makes me smile and I can still hear the Almighty Whoosh from beneath their five foot wings.

#taleswithfriends  #augustbreak2018

Change on the Rock of Ages

C H A N G E As an acupuncturist, the phase I heard most often was, "I don't like change." Sometimes I offered in return, "Well, then I guess you don't like breathing." Breathing means change, exchanging in for out, in for out, until one day the change to in does not happen. The photo is of The Billy Goat Trail in Great Falls National Park, Maryland. Seven years ago this Halloween, I somehow sorta accidentally found myself, a Complete Climbing Innocent, at the base of this cliff called The 50 Foot Traverse. College kids were going up and down like, well, billy goats. Others were faring less well; two girls were stuck halfway up, crying. Three of the four people I was with hopped on up like bunny rabbits. Husband was having no problem. I was NOT going to go back all by myself. About 3/4 way up, I came to a well now what the hell do I do, how embarrassed will I be when the rescue people have to come get me, I will die if I fall, halt. (Note to self: the brochure said this is a technical climb.....find out what that means.) I was frozen, desperately holding on, my position non-changing as minutes ticked by. Then, from above me, came a calm, kind voice. "Let go of where you are, cross over to the other side, and come on up." In effect, a young man with skill and faith in my abiliteis, told me how to change. And I did. Day 7/7 #soul_selfie with a deep bow of gratitude and love to @shalaghhogan. #taleswithfriends
  • C H A N G E
    As an acupuncturist, the phase I heard most often was, “I don’t like change.” Sometimes I offered in return, “Well, then I guess you don’t like breathing.” Breathing means change, exchanging in for out, in for out, until one day the change to “in” does not happen.
  • The photo is of The Billy Goat Trail in Great Falls National Park, Maryland. Seven years ago this Halloween, I somehow sorta accidentally found myself, a Complete Climbing Innocent, at the base of this cliff called The 50 Foot Traverse. College kids were going up and down like, well, billy goats. Others were faring less well; two girls were stuck halfway up, crying. Three of the four people I was with had already scampered on up like bunny rabbits. Husband was having no problem. I was NOT going to go back all by myself.
  • About 3/4 way up, I came to a well-now-what-the-hell-do-I-do; how- embarrassed-will-I be-when-the-rescue-people-have-to-come-get-me; I-will-die-if-I-fall; halt. A Fuller than Full Stop. (Note to self: the brochure said this is a technical climb…..find out what that means.) I was frozen, desperately holding on, my position non-changing as minutes ticked by.
  • Then, from above me, came a calm, kind voice. “Let go of where you are, cross over to the other side, and come on up.” In effect, a young man with skill and faith in my abilities, told me how to change. And I did.

The Wisdom of the Ages

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Samantha Ann 2016

Setting: last year, 2016, lying on livivng room couch. Characters: Samantha and me.

My five year old granddaughter sits on my stomach and peers right smack dab into my face. At my thinning hair, my acne scars, and my tea-drinking-stained teeth. “Your teeth are yellow, she observes.” “Yes, I know,” I say. She scrutinizes from hair to chin and back for long moments, then she gazes right into my eyes. “I love you, Momo,” she says.

 

The Ghost of Festive Lights Present

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2016 Columbia, Maryland

My husband likes baseball, planting flowers in the spring, and putting up Festive Lights in the winter. If it stands still, he can light it up. He put five around the thermostat on the living room wall a few years ago. I particularly like this year’s lights because they are put up all mismatched and wonky -like the lights on the Christmas trees when I was a kid. Those lights went branchward without regard to size, type, color, or number of bulbs that actually lit. Yup, love me some wonky. Maybe you like a little, too. Merry Christmas.

It Had Pink Pompom Blossoms Every Spring

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In three-and-a-half years, Josephine had never jumped up into this Kanzan Cherry tree before. I happened to be standing next to it a few weeks ago when she finally did, and I got three nice photos. The tree was cut down the next day so a sidewalk could be repaired. It’s felling was a shocking surprise to all of us who live here and admired its silky bark and profusion of cherry blossoms each spring. We delighted in the “pink rain” when the flowers finally floated free. It was a wonderful tree. I used to sit in it, myself.