Just a Couple Tootsies at a Time

Thought for the day:  Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

Gee, do you think that's why flamingos frequently stand on one foot... they're so smart they know better than to test the water with both of 'em?

Hi, guys. It's great to be back. I hope you've all had a good month. I've had a reeeeally productive one. (It's amazing how much stuff you can get done when your posterior isn't planted in an office chair most of the day.)

Um, ya know how TV shows take breaks for a while, and then when they finally come back on the air, they show a darned re-run? Annoying as heck, isn't it?

NO, not at all. It gives us a chance to catch back up again before we jump into a new episode, right? They're um, kinda testing the water. With one foot.

Oh, what the heck, this is my way of saying I'm easing back into the swing of things by coming back with a ... rerun. But hey! It's a pretty good one. It originally ran in February of last year as Touched by an Eagle.

Since my last two posts were about birds, why not dip my toes back into the blogosphere with a post about another bird? I hope you enjoy it.

+++

Thought for the day:  Celebrate your success and stand strong when adversity hits, for when the storm clouds come in, the eagles soar while the small birds take cover.

© Jeff Moore, UK

Some people think animals are a conduit between the physical and spiritual worlds. Native Americans strongly believe in animal spirits and animal guides.

Regardless of whether you believe in this sort of spirituality or not, if you've ever loved an animal, you're familiar with the special connections we can form with them. Most of us experience these connections with dogs and cats, or other domestic creatures.

Can you imagine connecting with a wild animal?

In Arlington, Washington is the Sarvey Wildlife Care Center. There, on a five-acre spread, volunteers rescue and rehabilitate orphaned, injured, and sick wild animals, mostly from the Puget Sound area, with the goal of healing them and releasing them back into the wild.

I'd like to share with you a  remarkable story about one of the volunteers who works there, and the unlikely connection he's formed ... with an American bald eagle named Freedom.

Jeff Guidry is one of the volunteers at the Sarvey Center. In 1998, when a fledgling bald eagle fell from its nest,  Jeff brought it into the center for treatment. The eaglet's badly broken wings were fitted with rods, but the bird remained in critical condition, and hovered near death for weeks. Every day, Jeff cared for this bird he'd named Freedom. He murmured heartfelt words of encouragement to the eagle, and willed him to live.

Finally, on a day determined to be Freedom's last chance for survival, the day he was to be removed from the feeding tube if there were no signs of improvement, the bird finally lifted his head, and slowly stood.

Freedom will never fly, and will spend the rest of his life at the center, where he and Jeff are an inseparable team, an educational team. It isn't unusual to see the mighty bird nuzzling with Jeff, as shown in the picture above. And it also isn't unusual for Freedom to put one wing around Jeff's shoulder in what looks like a gesture of friendship.

But that isn't the whole story.

In 2000, Jeff was diagnosed with cancer, an advanced cancer requiring eight heavy rounds of chemo. In an amazing role reversal, during the entire debilitating ordeal, Jeff sensed Freedom's constant encouragement, and felt the bird willing him to fight, and to live. On the day Jeff found out the treatment had succeeded, he and Freedom went for a walk. It was then that this mighty eagle wrapped both wings around Jeff in what must have felt like the protective hug of an angel. While enfolding Jeff in his wings, Freedom rested his beak on Jeff's nose, and for a moment, time stood still. Can you imagine the majesty of this experience?

Why imagine? Here, why not listen to Jeff tell you about it himself?

An inspirational story, isn't it? It sure sounds like a spiritual connection to me.

You might even call it a love story.

                            We are eagles of one nest --- the nest is in our soul.  [Led Zeppelin]

Don't forget: During the month of May, each comment you leave here earns you another chance to win a FREE autographed copy of my book. (If you missed the reveal about it, you can catch up by looking at the previous post.) And if you mention my book on your blog, that'll earn you another two chances. (Nope, I'm not above a little bribery. Not at all.)

One change: I've decided that ALL of the comments made on the previous post will be eligible for the drawing. Doesn't seem quite fair to include the ones made after May 1 and leave out all the ones made a day earlier. After all, the early birds deserve a shot at the worm, too. (Not that my book's a worm... but you know what I mean.) One other thing: anyone interested in receiving an e-version ARC to read and (gulp) review? If so, let me know. Gotcha covered for Kindle or Nook.


                                   


Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.