I’m feeling a little mushy – sad, happy, grateful.
This weekend I learned that a high school classmate passed away. I learned it on Facebook in a round about way, reading one post that led to another, and then another, until the story unfolded and I understood that my friend – who had only recently gotten back in touch – was gone. It was strange to learn about it the way I did, on a social network. I felt at once connected and removed. I cried, but could think of nothing meaningful to post. On my friend’s Facebook wall, like a memorial, people have posted their love, their grief, their memories. It is incredibly sad and beautiful.
On Sunday, still thinking of my friend, I was taken by the day. It was sunny and warm and alive, and we saved a baby dove.
The dove lives with it’s mom and sibling atop our back patio light amidst grape vines. He fell into the flower bed beneath the nest. I only found him because Lexi was going after him – curious, nervous, seemingly confused by her own predatory instincts. We wound up scooping the little guy up (he’s got feathers, but he’s not yet old enough to fly) on a piece of cardboard and putting him back in the nest. (Mom flew away during the rescue mission.) We attached the bottom half of a box to the side of our house in case he falls again, so he won’t fall as far. We were nervous Mom wouldn’t come back but she did, and Dad did too, standing guard as he has for weeks, and even taking a turn in the nest late in the afternoon. I got some great pics of the whole family – mom, dad and babies – which I’m sharing.
Last night both our boys were home for dinner, which almost never happens anymore.
All day, working out in the yard, watching the doves then spending time with the boys, I felt very aware of my life. Of life in general – the struggle and grace of it. The fragility. The renewal. I felt sad about my friend, and my sadness made me more aware of my own life, and all the things that fill it up, make it mine. I never did write anything on Greg’s Facebook wall, but I know I lived today better because of him, and I’m grateful…
And I think he would have liked that.
Mom and babies
Dad on guard
Dad taking over
Dad and baby
judy, i’m so very sorry to hear about your friend. i had a similar experience a few years ago. (a friend dying unexpectedly and finding out about it through alternate channels). it’s still shocking to me. people come and go in our lives so suddenly, yet leave us touched forever by both their presence and then their lack of it.
you honored him well by living and enjoying your day fully – and by saving the life of the baby dove. i’m sure both greg and the dove family appreciate it.
Judy, you’re sharing touched my heart. Sorry to hear of your friend Greg loss. I don’t know which made me cry harder hearing about your loss on a social network or your completely uplifting family effort to rescue the baby dove.
Thanks for sharing, Mairi
such a lovely post to start my day… thank you!
Judy,
Wow. That was beautiful. Sorry about your friend. The wall will be there if the right words come, if not, today’s post is a lovely tribute to him. And I know for a fact that he wasn’t the only friend you were thinking of this weekend.
You are a lovely soul ma’am.
The pictures of the doves are great. I TOTALLY knew what I was looking at.
You must be using the new magic camera of which epic stories and the songs of minstrels cavorting in the woods have foretold.
Have a lovely Monday.
Karen :)
JB, Thank you. It is unnerving, but also comforting, the way life goes on.
Mairi, Thank you so much for coming by and commenting. I’ve been reading your blog since it was the inspiration for one of Jane Bretl’s post. I love the current post, especially the picture, the perfect circle of children’s feet.
Peggi, and your comment was a lovely way to start mine.
Karen, Some of what I did this weekend reminded me of how lucky I am, to be sure. Big, big hugs, my friend. (And yes, I can only take pictures like these with the magic camera.)
Judy,
((((hugs))))
TZM
Judy, can you tell me who it was? I know that I was not back in touch with him, but I am saddened to hear about the loss of a classmate.
Very touching post – beautifully written!
Thanks for sharing :)
j,
I’m sad to hear about your friend. Even though I didn’t know him, he has touched me, reminded me we should live life with the innocence of our youth, when passions and dreams are forefront in our hearts and minds.
kid
Judy,
So Sorry about your lost. I’ve exactly the same experience this month . A friend from school passed away and I couldn’t wrote in his wall on Facebook either, but I wrote a post in my blog like you.
Eugenia
Teresa, ((((THANK YOU!))))
Christie, I sent you a note. Thank you for commenting!
Kid, I love that you come here to be wise. (I suspect you are wise elsewhere, but I pretend THESE are special Zebra Sounds pearls). Thank you for them.
Eugenia, Though the Google translator does let me know the gist of your posts, it does not communicate the music of your words. Someday… Thank you so much for commenting here.
Sorry to hear you lost a friend. Sad when we just re-connect and then they are gone.
I am sure he appreciates this post and was happy that you were able to help the doves.
Very nice pictures.
Enjoy the day all that much more!
Thank you Terre. I remembered what you said about taking LOTS of pics.
I’m sorry to hear about your friend. Life’s too fragile and most people always take it for granted… we should appreciate the best moments it has to offer. Easier said than done, but… Hugs!
The doves are very cute, you took great photos! Nice to have caught all the family :)
Beautiful writing, Judy. How nice to read(although sad about your high school pal’s passing–so sobering, indeed) after my having been away(for too long) from Zebra Sounds. The dove is a beauty, too.
I was thinking of you yesterday as my daughter and I watched a “What Not To Wear” and there was this moment when the hosts were wondering what exactly does a Zebra sound like?
I’m sending this from my iPhone so I’ll keep this brief and hopefully error free. Thank you so much for this post and the beautiful photos of the doves. I love the way symbols and omens show up when we just look around to see them. I know it’s perception and personal belief but it just seems so clear and I think it makes life more interesting.
Estrella, I read your sunset post. We were of one mind, today…
Tina, Scared me for a second. I thought, “Wow, Tina’s heard about my lack of fashion sense all the way across the country!” =)
Carey, I think sometimes we’re just in the right place to see what’s there all the time for us. It does make life more interesting.
I was on twitter the other day and saw this exchange between two people. (We’ll call them Molly and Jeanne.) Molly told Jeanne to tell a third person that she said hi and had been thinking about her. Jeanne replied that the girl had died. Then Molly replied that she had no idea. Jeanne told her it happened just last month. Molly said they had had a “falling out” but had been thinking about her and wanting to get back in touch. This exchange completely took my breath away.
I was a little shaken for a few days.
I never want to not say what I want to say for fear that I’ll look like an ass because I know that sometimes life can take weird turns.
Anyway, I remember you had a similar experience a while ago with an old neighbor.
I had a similar experience with a friend when I was 19, to make a long story short… we were great friends, grew up together and went to college together, same dorm, same parties. We got tired of each other after freshman year and stayed away from each other during the summer. I saw her walking around one day and literally went the other way to avoid her. She had Cystic Fibrosis. She got very ill the next week and died the week after that — that’s why I think we (humans) should say what we need to say whenever we can. I don’t know, this post just made me think about 5 different things at once I guess because although death happens, it’s inevitable… life happens too, and it’s beautiful, in all it’s wackiness.
ps — I think I’ll change my name to “Archive Girl”.