After some 40 some odd years of working for Someones, I am two days away from retirement. This day is full of gratitude in so many ways, for being able to make my kind of difference as much as I could for as long as I could, and for being able to take a breath and say to myself, I am back to blogging. For real.
I found this half written and long forgotten post from the spring of 2017. Its fitting that tonight when I took the dogs out at dusk, a barn owl sailed from the box to the trees, reminding me that another year is coming with everything wonderful and new. Here you go. Enjoy.
Through winter and spring, we have been bustling.
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| Artichokes into June |
A new family of barn owls settled into the palace, our newest box, and the male toggled between the old and new box so often we rather decided he was a returnee from last year's family. The owlets are two this year, both female, and oh so different in personality and boldness from our first family. And in all that the newness of life never grows old, or miraculous, or fun.
Last year, Tyto and Alba were dutiful adoring parents, keeping a watchful eye. Not so with the parenting style of Max and Ruby who made sure the brood was well fed and well watched, but had a hands-off approach to let nature their chicks into independent and fearless owls. The young owls are maturing faster, they are bolder, and stronger, and ready to go.
So many lessons here, watching the owls, knowing the way I was raised is how it works out for them.
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Be smart and wary; practice practice practice; know to step off the ledge into somewhere new.
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Lean on your parents and then on your family; be soundless in your approach and take only what you need; keep a low profile and do no harm.
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Get along; be who you are; don't borrow trouble, don't pick a fight but if it comes to you, use your wits and follow your instincts.
Really good advice, if you ask me.
