Thought for the day- April 8, 2000

Subject: Thought for the day- April 8, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 11:57 PM

In a time of enforced quiet and rest, I open the window for a literal breath of fresh air. It is springtime on the prairie with brown earth beginning to liven up to green, with tree branches still bare, but jonquils and crocus pushing their brave heads up through last night's three inch snow. Silence reigns, as the noise of the world is suspended through lack of traffic, neighbour's dogs, and children off at school. In that time, my cockatiel, C-more, and I both hear it. We both perk up, turn our heads listening with almost still breath willing it to sound again, almost afraid we are hallucinating a wish of renewal's symbol. Then, we hear it! The first meadowlark of the season. A bright, brief few notes, ending on a positive upbeat, in a singsong of almost speech, "hallo - are - you - there?" Immediatley C-more begins answering, singing his heart out for the thrill of it and joy of hearing an old friend. My eyes well up with tears of gratitude at this always mark of spring and the blessings of our existence...one little birdsong lifting all around me, most importantly my heart, with a joyful One Touch of the Great Spirit and I am at ease. Namaste!

Subject: RE: Thought for the day- April 8, 2000
From: Amos
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 12:17 AM

Namaste to you too, katlady! Heal with the growth of spring. Rest well. Grow stronger every day with the warming weather. You are much appreciated and warmly regarded in these parts.

A

Subject: RE: Thought for the day- April 8, 2000
From: JamesJim
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 12:48 AM

Beautiful composition, as well as thoughts. Your words take me back to the first time I read "Call of the Wild," when Spring for me was indeed very young. Bless you, C-More and your home. Jim

Subject: RE: Thought for the day- April 8, 2000
From: Eluned
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 01:33 AM

Takes me back to days of early morning rising, with an adventure ahead of me. how lovely and deep the premorning silence is, and sweeter still when pierced by such songs!

Subject: RE: Thought for the day- April 8, 2000
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 09:03 AM

Our bedroom faces vaguely East, we get awakened by the pigeons in the gutter. If we slept in the back bedroom, we'd get the blackbird and sparrows. Seems like we don't take enough time to sit and listen to the birdsong, until we are forced to.

Be well,

Liz

Subject: RE: Thought for the day- April 8, 2000
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 09:22 AM

Namaste Memsahib kat, Beautiful picture in words, how eloquently put..Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Thought for the day- April 8, 2000
From: Peter T.
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 10:38 AM

Thanks for the fine picture you conjure up, and also taking time from your enforced rest to do this. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day- April 8, 2000
From: rangeroger
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 12:42 PM

Where I live in North Idaho,it's the song of the robins that bring the feel of spring to me.They are about the only thing that cuts through the sound of I-90 which passes through about a 1/4 mile to the north. kat, you must have gotten the same snow I got.Woke up Thurs. AM to it dumping.Today it may push into the 70's.
The other thing that brings spring to me are the swallows.I can look out my window as I type this and see them cavorting in the air and sitting on the phone lines.
I would love to be out on the prairie and listen to the meadowlark.
rr

Subject: RE: Thought for the day- April 8, 2000
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 01:13 PM

Meadowlark means Cheerful Journey Inward
The meadowlark is actually a blackbird. It has a bright yellow breast, usually with a black crescent across it. It is a bird that usually indicates that you are about to experience a cheerful journey into the inner you. Many of its behaviors reflect the inward journey and movement often associated with self-discovery. This can be the discovery of the intuition and imagination.
Its behaviors and activities also reflect the inner journey. It builds a dome-shaped nest, or it uses depressions in the ground in which it lays its eggs. The shapes indicate a drawing in. The birds rarely leaves the ground (staying close to the self) except when disturbed or when perching to sing.
Unlike most birds, it walks when feeding upon the ground, rather than hopping. This reflects a comfortableness with the inner environment, which the earth is in relation to the air.
The medowlark also has a cheery song. It also sings as it flies - not like most birds which sing only when perched. It also lives in open meadows, and meadows are places of positive growth and fertility.
The meadowlark also has an unusual flight. It flies with very stiff wings and a fluttering motion. It alternately sails and flaps, giving it the appearance of a playful flight.
The meadowlark teaches us to find joy in going within ourselves. It helps us to find ways to sing within our life conditions by helping us recognize that every individual event is part of a greater journey. It can teach you that the joy of the quest is not in reaching the destination but rather in the journey itself.

From Animal Speaks by Ted Andrews

With loving thoughts, be well soon kat.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day- April 8, 2000
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 11:00 PM

Kat, didn't know you were ill, hope you are better soon. Thanks for the picture. Here in Hawaii we don't have clearly defined seasons. They are here, but they're subtle. Also not nearly as many singing birds. I do miss spring and fall, though I am quite happy doing without winter and summer. I remember being in a reading room of Firestone library at Princeton one early spring, and the feel of that first warm breeze through the window was indescribable. I tried to put it into a poem once that I've mostly forgotten, but I do remember one line, about a bird's song: "'Each spring is the first!' she sings with joy." Sure does feel that way, every time.

One other thing to think about, along this line. On the island of Guam there are no birds. None. They've been killed off by the brown tree snakes, which have pretty much taken over the island; there is a big program here to prevent their gaining a foothold in Hawaii. I haven't been to Guam, but I can't imagine waking up in the morning without birdsong -- even pigeons and sparrows. Be well, Kat, and breathe the spring.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Thought for the day- April 8, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 11:29 PM

Thanks to all of you for sharing and the good wishes. I am on the mend and your care means a lot to me.

Mark, (sorry if I've already told you this one) I had a friend in Connecticut, whose friend moved to Hawaii as her husband's work went there. She had grown up in New England with its glorious seasons. After being in the tropical paradise for a few years, her husband came home one day to find her in front of the kitchen window, at the sink, washing a dish over and over, saying to herself, "Another beautiful damn day in Hawaii." He transferred back to New England shortly after.

luvya'llkat