I had a pretty remarkable experience this morning.
Last edited Sat Aug 30, 2014, 05:11 PM - Edit history (1)
Went out around 10am to get coffee and breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts, which is actually a treat now; back in Boston, one could not swing a cat by the tail without hitting three Dunks, while up here in the woods, it's a 45-minute drive to get to one and back again. It was worth it, however, because Cailen slept like crap last night, has to work today, and definitely had her GODDAM I NEED DUNKS IN MY FACE look on her face, so I went.
We live on a dirt road, and at the bottom of the driveway on the other side of the road is our cabin on the lake. For years now, the lake has enjoyed the presence of a huge heron. When it spreads its wings and flies, it looks like a 747. As I was coming down the road, maybe a mile from home, what was standing there at the side of the road but the heron. I slowed down as I approached it, lest it make a sudden move and hit the car. It looked right at me as I came up to it, turned, took flight...and flew down the center of the road, maybe eight feet off the ground.
...so I accelerated and got in right behind and under it. For about a half-mile, the heron flew right above my bumper as we both cruised down the middle of the road. I had never been that close to it before, and its wing span was easily wider than the hood of the car. It flew effortlessly, not spooked in the least by my presence behind it. Finally, just before the big hill that leads to the lake, it gently veered to the left and disappeared into the forest.
So, yeah, getting to Dunks may be a pain in the ass, but I got to fly with a heron. Boston it ain't, and that's just fine.
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You get to fly with herons. Amazing.
Thanks for the lift...
My primary home is in the San Joaquin Sacramento Delta area, a little place but the house is right on the levee and the birds are abundant.
The Black Crowned Night Heron is a smaller bird, smaller than the Blue Herons and the Egrets and other daily visitors.
I like that this species is solitary and unassuming, and a mating pair was present for a while, and I could almost set my watch to their morning and evening departures from a tree across the river.
My favorite thing is their coloring and an elegant slender feather feature not found on the other marine birds in these parts:
I'll be selling this place soon to a smaller place on the coast with different animal life. Pelicans and Gulls are common, I need to learn the different species. The best, however, are the marine mammals. Dolphins are here daily, on Thursday I went for a swim and was met by two seals, literally withing 20 feet of me (they are cute, like dogs).
And possibly the best, last week, also on Thursday, I was cruising the DU and checking the email and looked up from my computer to see a humpback whale surface. With binoculars, I found that at least three of them were out them.
Humans, we're so boring compared to our earthly neighbors.
My last sighting of a great blue heron was in Copenhagen in June.
I was walking from our hotel--through a park--to go see The Little Mermaid
statue.
As I entered the park--there was the heron.
Here he is: [URL=
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And this was his environment in the park on that back shore in the middle of the photo:
And what I went to see:
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always lift my heart and inspire me. Its beauty and its integrity.
Lucky you! 
Problem solved.
Years ago I was fascinated with the Native American beliefs in animal medicine and symbology. Generally, when an animal crosses your path, it's bringing you a message to ponder. I always found it interesting and helpful for my own personal growth. Here is some info I found on Heron medicine:
You are being called to take courage and follow your true path, which will be discovered through exploring your inner self. Find what draws you to action.
-Heron
More
...and haven't in 25 years now. I walk (a lot) or take the subway.
I ONLY use tap water, no bottled water. Ever.
I can't afford to throw away perfectly good food, and know my way around the kitchen, so that's not really a problem around here.
But yes, I use natural gas to keep my apartment heated to 65 in the winter. And I use AC to cool it to 78 in the summer. Luckily, this summer, that hasn't been much of an issue. And yes, I do wear clothing and use other items made by slave labor. Like this old Macbook I'm typing this on.
Because I'm a hypocrite. I know that full well, and can easily admit it. I'm a few other things as well, like a curmudgeon, and a party-pooper. It's not holier-than-thou douchebaggery. It's we're all in this together douchebaggery.
C'mon, Will, you wrote the frikkin' book about the lies of the warmongers, and then you gleefully patronize their retail arm? Maybe you didn't know who owns Dunkin' Brands? You can come out and say that if you didn't know, but I think you did, or you would've said so. Frankly, I think I struck a nerve here, based on your reaction. I was expecting a "yeah, I"m no angel," and got called an ass instead. That's fine, I'm just a collection of electrons somewhere on the internet.
See, this is the flip-side of that "pretty remarkable experience" you had. For every positive, there's a corresponding negative. Make the most of it, friend... and have a Happy Sunday!
It was Mothman.
Classic Mothman behavior.
Cher
