Today the heat roared back to life here in the Mid-Atlantic. After a spring of lots of rains and storms and cooler temperatures, that hot lady Summer sashayed in carrying a blow torch. There are heat advisories and warnings posted for at least half of the state. The weather hasn’t been kind to North Carolina in the last year and none of us dare ask, “What next?”
I’m not an early riser or at least I wasn’t at one time. This morning I tiptoed out while the dew was still on the grass and quickly deadheaded the day lilies and watered the porch plants. It wasn’t hot yet but I didn’t linger as I did two weeks ago.
We have successfully launched two sets of baby birds. The Finches left last Sunday. Good riddance, they’re an annoying bunch of birds. I’ve been watching the Wren nest for a couple weeks now. I wanted to see how far along they were so I lifted back one of the leaves on the plant they nested in and there was a bird who was clearly ready to get the show on the road. When I moved the pot back a little, I heard a screech and looked up to see another baby Wren on top of the plant. It was the worst time ever to check the nest.
So now an hour later the potted plant nest is empty except for their leavings and one unhatched egg. There’s no saving the plant now. I had to stop watering it while the birds were small and they certainly didn’t clean up before they flew.
Once baby birds leave the nest, there is no going back. I guess it’s that way with children too. I mean, they could go back for a visit but not to stay because they’re too large and the nest is much too small. I miss my own kids very much. They’re all three really good, decent people that work hard and take care of their families. I get that. I always swore I wouldn’t try to hang on to them like my own Mom did to us. She hadn’t wanted any of us to leave. She hung on so hard that some of us had to just put distance between us just to be able to breathe. She was more about control than love. Lots of parents do that.
Still, I miss the visits. I miss being more a part of their lives. Sometimes I don’t really know what to talk about when they call me. There’s such a distance that even small talk is difficult. I feel like my own life isn’t very exciting to them.
The baby birds will follow their momma around for a few days expecting her to continue to feed them. At some point, she will read them the riot act and they’ll be on their own. Yet, I can’t help but think that she will feel some maternal pride when she looks at her little brood sitting on tree branches or at least I hope she does.
And as you have probably already guessed, this story isn’t really about birds.