Grandmother Is Fond of God's Creatures

I WAS very aware that another column was due in a few days but my brain didn't seem to care as it stubbornly refused to contribute even one idea. Stubbornly I sat there glaring down at the familiar yellow tablet but it seemed to stare right back, as if in a game of wills.

Easily intimidated, even by inanimate objects, I was about to toss it all aside, pick up a nearby book and read a while, but just in time, as if he were a gift from heaven -- which I always thought anyway -- one of my grandsons unexpectedly strolled into my living room and as we began a conversation, I knew I had the inspiration I so badly needed.

We have, since his childhood, enjoyed many and varied conversations so it didn't come as a surprise when he sat down in a rocker and began to relate his latest adventure involving members of the wild animal kingdom.

It seems a mother Raccoon and four cute little babies strolled into their yard and proceeded to make themselves at home. While the mommy searched for something to eat, the babies obediently climbed a nearby tree. It turned out that two cats lived there and the food supply was rather plentiful so at mom's silent signal the children left the safety of the tree and the food quickly disappeared.

That's where his story ended and where my unsolicited advice began-- advice about not becoming too up-close and friendly with Raccoons because of their penchant for carrying rabies. He took it just the way he did when he was a child--with a shrug of his shoulders but a knowing look in his eyes.

He has always been a nature lover--especially of birds. That began, I think when he was just a little fellow, when we sat on my old glider and watched all kinds of birds dine at a feeder my husband made and kept filled.

Where that grandson lives now all sorts of birds come to dine--some I have never seen before in my 80 years on this earth. One early evening as we sat outdoors at his house he said, "Listen Grandma, do you hear that bird? It's a Mockingbird." Something I hadn't heard since I was a child.

Once upon a time I tried that indoor "bird-thing" but soon found that though beautiful and fascinating they were also a trifle messy. I loved and cared for them--and was entertained by them for as long as they lived but somewhere in that time span, I found out that I much preferred to sit on the back porch and watch the wild ones.

I remember when my younger son and his wife owned a pair of love birds, appropriately known as Hugs and Kisses, who seemed to enjoy a "whither thou goest" relationship. Every now and then they were allowed out of their palatial cage to test their wings and I just happened to be there the day they landed on the head of my toddler granddaughter who thought that was great until one of them nipped her delicate pink ear. It was back to the cage for the birds and to the arms of a mother for our little girl.

I recall all of the animals and birds we have loved down through the years and each in turn have crossed over that fabled Rainbow Bridge where it has been said, they wait for us. In the meantime we miss them all because animals and the winged creatures give back so much in return for the love we give to them.

Minna Jacobs
Connellsville, PA

Comments

[Mark E. Dotson]

We are truly blessed to have such an abundant variety of wildlife in America. Great article and thank you for sharing it with us!

[Jack Lewnes]

Grandmothers are special. Love and knowledge flows horizontally and vertically, right?

Thanks, Minna.