It's Going To Be A Great Year

How do I know that?  How can I make such a positive statement?  Well sometimes nature tells you.  The signs are so clear and definite. 

Yesterday morning a flock of Cardinals visited my back deck.  Yes, I said a flock.  I’ve never seen more than two males at the same time.  Yesterday there were five males and two females.  They were gorgeous as they flitted about scouring for sunflower seeds.  The males would even take time out to have a short air fight.  The fight didn’t last long because they really wanted to eat. 

When I see such unexpected events in nature, I am never prepared and I just stand/sit there with my mouth open.  Reality sets in and I grab my camera to take pictures of this momentous event.  I’m not good at this – I’m so excited, I don’t wait to get a good pose.  I’m afraid I won’t get anything at all.  So I hurry and don’t take time to focus properly.  I think the birds know this so just before I’m going to click, they turn their backside or move and ruin the perfect pose.  But that doesn’t stop me and I usually get a few good ones and curse myself for not being more patient and careful.

When I was growing up on the farm in SC I was told that a red bird made wishes come true.  If you saw one, you threw a kiss, made a silent wish and it would come true.  Frankly I can’t ever remember if it came true or not but I do remember the excitement of sighting the bird, throwing a kiss and making the wish.  Even now as a senior, if I see a red bird I throw a kiss and make a wish. 

So yesterday instead of making many wishes (for all the opportunities), I just made one big one – that my New Year would be the best ever.  Then when I felt that was settled, I thought in bigger terms and wished Peace and Joy for the whole world.

It’s going to be a Great Year, the Red Birds told me so.