Door Greeters

Cedar Waxwing flock.

familiar trilling

hundreds of cedar waxwings

beautiful door greeters

Yesterday when I arrived at the treatment center, I noticed a few dozen Cedar Waxwings feeding in one of the ornamental crab trees that are numerous around the medical complex. When we arrived today, I heard their signature trilling before I saw them, and when I walked up towards the entrance doors, hundreds of waxwings filled the air with flashing wings and beautiful noise.

I have what I call "abd" or attention bird disorder. No matter where I am and no matter what I may be doing, if there are birds around, all other thoughts leave my mind except the bird(s), and I am drawn like a magnet to them. To me, this is perfectly normal. When I went inside and changed into a gown then sat in the waiting room, one of the other patients asked me "what were you looking at in the parking lot in the blowing snow, I saw you taking a video."

I am always surprised that so many walk right past such sights, too hurried and busy to stop and drink in the magic of birds doing what they do so well. I couldn’t if I tried. Chances are very good that whenever my last day on this beautiful earth arrives, I will have spent part of it watching birds.

Peace.