Clearing Our Heads
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| Verifying the object we were seeing was a bird and a bald eagle at that. |
With my wife off work for a few weeks to heal, we've taken to going to morning mass on a nearly daily basis. On this particular day, we were almost there when the priest texted us that his mother had passed away earlier that morning after a 7 year battle with cancer. Besides being a priest, he is a personal friend of our family and has been for some time so the news was a blow to us. After mass, my wife and I went for a walk on the river levee to clear our heads a bit.
Along the way, we saw something on a log and weren't quite sure what we were seeing. My wife kept thinking it was just a branch jutting up into the air. I was pretty sure it was a bird but not sure what kind. So I pulled out my iPhone, zoomed in as far as I could and snapped the above picture which was the result without cropping. It was good enough to assure me that it was indeed a bird and that it was actually a bald eagle looking for food. It is amazing how technology allows me to see better than I can with my own eyes corrected with glasses.
As part of the healing process, my wife isn't supposed to get her heart rate above 120 bpm so the walk wasn't as long as it could have been nor as fast as it could have been but it was long and slow enough to help clear our heads from the awful news. We took him out for lunch a couple hours later and encouraged him to take all the time necessary to grieve and to attend to things. Hopefully it is only three weeks because that is what the diocese allows.
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| Heading back towards downtown |
I'm guessing news like that is especially hard given your circumstances. Even when it's different, it can still have a more personal impact. Even so, these things are a part of life. What a blessing that you and your wife are such good friends to him.
ReplyDeleteWe've known him for many years but he became our priest only a year and a half ago.
DeleteNeat sighting, but you wife should walk with us. She could walk for hours at our pace and not raise her heart rate. Except we can’t walk for long, so … nevermind. 😀
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think just walking at a slow pace is better than the alternative.
DeleteSorry about the bad news, yes I can imagine that it was hard to process. Taking time to just be is good.
ReplyDeleteIt was expected though it still came as a shock if that makes sense. I've been keeping Far Guy in my thoughts and prayers.
DeleteThat's interesting about not getting the heart rate up; I would never have thought of that. It's sad about the priest's mother; a 7 year cancer journey is quite long and I hope her quality of life was decent/good during that time.
ReplyDeleteI think it is because a lot of blood vessels in the area were essentially dissected and so they want to keep pressure to a minimum until they seal up properly.
DeleteWe last saw her late in 2023 when she visited the U.S. and we took her and her son out for dinner. She seemed mobile and pain free then though just a touch pale perhaps. We suspected there was an issue and her son told us later that she had recently been diagnosed with metastasized cancer that had spread to her spine and organs. I'm not sure where the original cancer was located. Up until about a month ago, she had been living on her own but fell and requiring a full time care taker.
We have such fragile and yet strong bodies. Every day that we live is a miracle with air to breathe, food and water to nourish us, and body functions that automatically do what they are meant to do. Death is inevitable and different for each of us. I always wonder what is on the other side and I believe it is quite wonderful. Take care and hug your wife.
ReplyDeleteHuman bodies truly are a marvel of design.
DeleteI'm so sorry for the pain you are both experiencing and the worry. What is it about the winter that seems to bring on bad news? My friend in Illinois lost her sister 2 days ago. And I lost two uncles in last month. For me, I guess age will bring on more loss but it's hard to experience.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a worry about your wife. I've been so preoccupied with everything over here that I'm trying to catch up with my blog friends.
I’m not sure if it is winter or due to the cold, we just have more down time to contemplate such things. Probably doesn’t apply to Hawaii though.
DeleteNothing like a walk to help clear the mind. OK, maybe sitting alone by the ocean. Looks like it was a nice day for a walk.
ReplyDeleteI am adept at using my phone to read print that is too small for me. That's really a feature they should use to market phones to my generation.
I find myself doing that very thing quite often too. Most recently it was reading the watch battery number to see what size to buy for replacement.
DeleteMy condolences to all of you for the loss. It's never easy, even when you know it's inevitable.
ReplyDeleteI always find it exciting to see a bald eagle! They are such magnificent birds. For that matter, I love seeing Osprey's, too - another large, impressive raptor.
They were extremely rare in my younger years. Now I see many every time I walk along the river.
DeleteI'm sorry your friend lost his mother. I'm sure that you will support him well at this time of sorrow.
ReplyDeleteWell he is overseas right now preparing for the funeral but we will support him when he gets back.
DeleteSo sorry about your friend/priest's mother. One would expect that a religious leader might be better equipped to deal with death but I'm sure it's still just as hard. Good spot on the eagle! I thought they hunted from a height; I've never seen one perched above the water like that. (Not that I am an eagle expert by any means!)
ReplyDeleteNow that you mention it, I have never seen an eagle hunt from river level like that. It has always been from the trees. Later in the walk, we saw a hawk of some sort plummet down to the river but pull up at the last second, evidently hunting a fish.
DeleteWalks are always good after such news. Glad you were able to support your priest/friend and may he find consolation in a time of grief.
ReplyDeleteWalks are just good at clearing the head and soul, no matter what the occasion.
DeleteAdding my condolences, as well as best wishes to your wife as she recovers. The bald eagle is, indeed, a majestic bird/animal.
ReplyDeleteThey are a fitting national bird, thanks to recent efforts.
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