Empty Nest

Baby Humming Bird looked us proudly!

The pass month, we had wonderful experiences observing humming bird nesting. It was 2/12.  That morning,  we stood next to our office window talking, Don spotted something on the tree - It was a tiny humming bird nest, which has two unhatched tiny eggs! Next day, one egg hatched.  The other egg hatched in the following day.  Since, checking the status of chicks, and watching babies grow became our daily routing.

I know humming bird drink liquid from flowers, but I didn’t know mommy feeds babies insects.  The pass weeks, we saw mommy bird picked stuff out from nest to keep it clean; we also saw the babies, when they were big enough, raised their tail and shoot out their pooh from the edge of nest – speaking of which, we need to clean our window glass on the first floor.  We saw them starching their tongue out of beak time to time – are they checking the environment?  Week ago, chicks started flapping their wings – although we didn’t see much feather on the wings.  Few days ago, we observed the two babies more activate than before.  Every day, they seem grow so fast.  Sometime, I wonder the little nest could handle to big babies.  They moved around so they could sit comfortably.  At the end of few days before baby take off, they stand on each other practice how to fly.  On the weekend, one of baby stand on the edge practice.  I started worry what if it fall?  Under the tree is out concrete sidewalk! 

It turns out, birds just know what they are doing.  On Monday, when we returned home from work, we found the nest only one baby bird left.  I saw mommy coming back to feed her.

I can’t believe we missed the first fly!!  Luckily, Don was able to take few pictures.  The baby who left the nest stand near by branch.  He looks so proud!  We know, the second one will be leave soon.  Unfortunately, I missed it again.  But I got full report from Don who worked from home that day.

We got so many amazing pictures. I feel so lucky!  I never thought I could witness this in nature setting in my life time. I planned to trim the tree badly.  Now, I need to rethink about it.  Because this tree is the home for the humming bird!    

一卡皮箱

提到皮箱，就想到旅行。

過年前，辦公室的同事凱瑞跟我說要回威斯康辛州，他的媽媽大腸癌第四期，已經擴散到其他器官。我問他會回去多久，他說只有兩周。要趕回來參加一場樂團演出。

我心想，母親已是風中殘燭，人都回去了，怎不待久一點？
同事口中的母親十分固執頑強， 他和母親的關係並不好。母子二人相處,兩周算是極限了。

我回台一個月，回來上班後看到他的辦公室門關著。我心知，他的母親過世了。

今天一早，他回來上班了.我過去關心他。

凱瑞的妻子早年癌世，他以為自己經歷過了，已經有心理準備。
想不到這次看著母親走到生命盡頭，比上次還痛。
他說他機票延了三次。有一天母親問他＂你要走了嗎？＂凱瑞回答＂沒有，沒有要走＂。
他告訴我，他很慶幸決定留下來。
我感受到他的悲傷，忍不住走上前給他一個安慰的擁抱。
他抱緊我久久不放。 我的眼淚忍不住掉下來。

我兩都拭著淚。

他說著癌末的母親如何痛苦卻不能安樂死；她如何在生命最後的時間把所有的後事安排好。
他提到,因為這次的事，他也開始想著自己，要怎麼做。
凱瑞說， 他有一位九十多歲的朋友，數年來一直減少家當。現在，他的家當只有一只皮箱。隨時可以出發＂旅行＂。

多麼灑脫啊!

我們空手來，也將空手走。雖然我們都知道，罣礙卻那麼多。

我也想在那一天到來時，也可以瀟灑地，只有一只皮箱。隨時可以出發＂旅行＂。