I left work tonight at 11:07. It was just me and the evening sky. The temperature was perfect. You know...when you can't feel anything...not hot, not cold...just perfect. I walked under this huge pine tree that we have by our office and I heard birds...lots of them. It wasn't a scary bird clamor. It was a joyful noise, lots of chattering, probably lots of girl birds talking about irrelavent things that were only important to the bird who was chirping.
I thought of my granddaughter, Adi. I remembered her mom telling me about an afternoon last summer when she came into the house wearing a hat, sunglasses and binoculars. She had ranch-flavored sunflower seeds and a note pad and pencil. She had been doing some serious bird-watching and was prepared to feed and illustrate her bird friends if she happened to venture upon any of them.
To her avail, she didn't spot one bird...but her Uncle Chad told her about the barn swallows that used to roost in Granny Goose's doorway and drew her a picture. She was then satisfied with her bird-watching efforts as she nibbled on her sunflower seeds.
On the way home tonight, the clock turned to 11:11. I made a wish. I wished that someday soon Adi and I could sit under the big pine tree by my office and listen to the birds...
