Adjusting back to life in the Midwest after being gone for a week has been challenging. There's the whole jet-leg thing. There's the-uninterrupted-sleep thing. There's the-no-keeping-track-of-time thing.
It's obvious that Gina and I needed a break. It was restorative, to say the least, to be husband and wife instead of the at-home constants of care-giving, case-managing and parenting.
Our anniversary trip was like the honeymoon that we wouldn't have appreciated when we were newlyweds coupled with activities that we both enjoy. Nature was a large part of it.
We found ourselves fulfilling new roles, as quite the bird nerds. We were well on our way before trip, but I think watching "The Big Year" a few weeks before going sealed our fate as ave lovers. We hiked a lot with binoculars and identification books always on deck.
The notion of 'bird-nerding' is not as far-fetched as you might think. It was more than one year ago we moved into our new house where the back yard became a refuge - for many types of birds and for Gina and me.
As we watched, discovered and learned about new species of birds that we'd never seen before our emotional scars began to heal much quicker. We more easily let go of the past and the world became enjoyable again.
We had a great-crested flycatcher land right outside of our bedroom window. We spotted a scarlet tanager from our kitchen table. We were often visited by hawks and owls.
A pair of barred owls frequently hunted in the mornings outside our windows. Gina had even witnessed an owl taking a squirrel off for an unusually large breakfast!
So, that we'd spend our time celebrating 10 years of marriage watching, listening and discovering new birds is apropos beyond belief. While we didn't have a 'big year' per se, we did had one hell of a big week, one that we will never forget.
We saw more than 25 new species of birds, most of which, we'd never seen before, ranging from a Rufous hummingbird to a flock of great egrets. We were like children, discovering an unknown world and it felt as comfortable as home.
But now, as I sit here typing this, there are a pair of turkey vultures sitting in the dead tree behind our house where the owls and hawks typically are. They've been visiting often lately.
It couldn't be more apropos for the vultures to not only be circling overheard but to be landing and hanging out comfortably behind the House of Gort.
While most people consider a vulture to be a scavenger, only around to pick up the scraps, take away all of the dead weight, I can appreciate the kind of message it sends. The past year has been filled with new life, happiness and restoration but there's still more work to do.
I see clearly there is dead weight hanging around, and its time let go of it (now).
It's obvious that Gina and I needed a break. It was restorative, to say the least, to be husband and wife instead of the at-home constants of care-giving, case-managing and parenting.
Our anniversary trip was like the honeymoon that we wouldn't have appreciated when we were newlyweds coupled with activities that we both enjoy. Nature was a large part of it.
We found ourselves fulfilling new roles, as quite the bird nerds. We were well on our way before trip, but I think watching "The Big Year" a few weeks before going sealed our fate as ave lovers. We hiked a lot with binoculars and identification books always on deck.
The notion of 'bird-nerding' is not as far-fetched as you might think. It was more than one year ago we moved into our new house where the back yard became a refuge - for many types of birds and for Gina and me.
As we watched, discovered and learned about new species of birds that we'd never seen before our emotional scars began to heal much quicker. We more easily let go of the past and the world became enjoyable again.
We had a great-crested flycatcher land right outside of our bedroom window. We spotted a scarlet tanager from our kitchen table. We were often visited by hawks and owls.
A pair of barred owls frequently hunted in the mornings outside our windows. Gina had even witnessed an owl taking a squirrel off for an unusually large breakfast!
So, that we'd spend our time celebrating 10 years of marriage watching, listening and discovering new birds is apropos beyond belief. While we didn't have a 'big year' per se, we did had one hell of a big week, one that we will never forget.
We saw more than 25 new species of birds, most of which, we'd never seen before, ranging from a Rufous hummingbird to a flock of great egrets. We were like children, discovering an unknown world and it felt as comfortable as home.
But now, as I sit here typing this, there are a pair of turkey vultures sitting in the dead tree behind our house where the owls and hawks typically are. They've been visiting often lately.
It couldn't be more apropos for the vultures to not only be circling overheard but to be landing and hanging out comfortably behind the House of Gort.
While most people consider a vulture to be a scavenger, only around to pick up the scraps, take away all of the dead weight, I can appreciate the kind of message it sends. The past year has been filled with new life, happiness and restoration but there's still more work to do.
I see clearly there is dead weight hanging around, and its time let go of it (now).
