One of the few benefits of chronic insomnia is that I am often up with the birds…literally.
McMillian reservoir was built by the Army Corps of engineers at least 120 years ago and now, in addition to holding a lot of DC’s water, it’s home to a huge flock of non-migrating Canadian geese. The past couple of times I’ve gotten out of bed (rather than lie there in the dark trying to be quiet as I stare at the ceiling) I’ve gotten to hear them, quiet honks filling the morning air, going both ways in what must be either regular flight practice or a short hop to somewhere with better feeding.
And there was a pretty little finch of some sort, yellow with black wings, that saw fit to serenade the world around dawn in the tree just outside my window. Kind of nice, that.
It wasn’t until I was living in France that birds started to mean something in my life. Having lived in one big city after another for years and years, it was amazing to be in St. Tropez and hear all the birds each and every morning. I loved them all, from the sea gulls to the sparrows.
Now in Houston I listen and look for the birds on my morning walk. I’ve seen cardinals, blue jays, oh far to many to mention really…and I love them.
Except when they poop on me!
Hope you have a good weekend!
STB
Have you ever tried having a good “sobbing from way down deep” cry for your insomnia?
I know someone that worked for.