Empty Nest

It happened so fast. I thought I was going to have more time. Seems like just yesterday...

My baby bird has grown up and flown away, taking mama and papa bird with her (or him). In less than 3 weeks, she went from being an egg, to what seemed like a perpetually open mouth, to this adorable little fledgling. 

Then, suddenly, she was gone. The nest empty. The azalea bush bare looking without the bright red of the papa cardinal flying in to help feed the baby. 

I have been ridiculously happy watching these birds. It has been an amazing experience to watch the mama build her nest, lay her eggs, and hatch and feed the baby. 

They grow up so fast...

 

The Gift

No matter how much we think we are loved, the cynic in many of us occasionally wonders if anyone would REALLY care if we were no longer here. We fantasize about being able to somehow attend our own funerals and see who the true mourners are. 

This week, due to the sad passing of a woman bearing the same first and last name, and being close to my own age, I was given a bit of a chance to see how people would react to my passing. I have had phone calls from people with tears in their voices, telling me how glad they were that I was not the Karen Sanders who had passed on. I walked in Cracker Barrel where my longtime waitress, Nancy, looked at me as if she had seen a ghost. With tears in her eyes, she told me she had been crying for two days, thinking I was gone. What a humbling and emotional experience this has been.

Of course, some friends and family knew that the birth date under the name in the Riles funeral ad was not mine and were not worried, thank goodness.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Karen Cynthia Sanders. May she rest in perfect peace. 

Happy Wednesday!

Papa cardinal began showing up a few days ago. Mama was staying on the nest almost full time. I was officially on "baby watch." 

Yesterday afternoon, I saw the first little beak pop up above the nest. I was so happy that my husband joked that I must feel like passing out cigars! 

I can't see inside the nest, so I have no idea how many babies there are, but I am hoping to see more little beaks popping up soon. 

I woke up this morning feeling ridiculously happy. I spent much of my late night hours reading back over the life and words of Jesus. Luke 10:27 is one of my favorite verses and is the crux of who Jesus was and what he wanted for this world. 

 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

I also woke up with this wonderful Mama Cass tune running through my head. Have a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfQsngNoV7I 

Madama Butterfly

Yesterday, I had the experience of seeing a Metropolitan Opera simulcast via Fathom Events at Tinseltown in Pearl. It was one of the most wonderful things that I have ever seen in my life. And, I have seen a lot. 

My introduction to opera was through my mother's recordings of Met performances back in the 1950's and '60's. One of these recordings was Madama Butterfly. Dorothy Kirsten was the soprano lead and Daniele Barioni was the tenor. I fell instantly and irrevocably in love with Puccini. 
However, I had never seen a stage production of Butterfly until yesterday. 

Dressed in my butterfly sweater and my "Un Bel Di" bracelet from operabracelets.com, I went to experience Butterfly. I was absolutely enchanted. The costumes were exquisite, the sets, simple, and elegant, and Kristine Opolais, and Roberto Alagna were perfect for Cio Cio San and Pinkerton. They are gifted vocalists who are also physically appealing enough to be believable in the roles. 

There is supposed to be an encore at 6:30 PM at Tinseltown in Pearl if you are interested in this amazing event. 

 

The Bird

I admit it. I have never been much of a bird person. I saw the Hitchcock movie when I was a child and it completely freaked me out. 

But, a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that a cardinal was building a nest in the azalea bush right outside the room in my home that I use for an office. She is probably not six feet from where I sit when I am working on my computer, albeit separated by a window and a screen. 


I became instantly fascinated as I watched her build her nest. She would bring in more twigs and leaves, then sit on the nest, changing positions every five minutes or so. I guess she was making sure that something she was going to be sitting on for a while was as comfortable as possible. She is spending a little more time in the nest each day. I have not seen her mate around, so she apparently has not laid her eggs. I hear cardinal daddies are pretty good at helping keep the eggs warm. Poor mama has to go start building yet another nest. 

Now, I find myself feeling a bit like a mother hen! I worried that this weeks storms and wind might harm the nest. I have been concerned about possible predators. Do I feed her or will that attract creatures who might do her and her babies harm?? My husband is not helpful in his "that's just nature" approach! This is MY cardinal! 

I have named her "Mamacarla" in honor of a friend who has a nurturing soul. 

Stay tuned for the further adventures of Mamacarla and the babies.