OWL FLY-BY

On my walk this morning a little owl flew very close to me… The tip of her wing touched my shoulder before she disappeared into a tree. In the quiet darkness of the morning my mind formed this conception: I think that owl had a message for me…not just poor depth perception. Some believe if you’re touched by an owl it’s a sign…a message from someone you knew… but I was immediately confused…because I could not determine who. My first thought went to my mom and dad…but soon other names amassed… Deborah’s mom and dad…and our friend Tim…who recently has passed. To Susan, a woman I taught with year ago…I think around 1988… Cancer took her during that school year…she was 28. To Denny a good friend I grew up with…whose life too soon came to an end… To Chrissy…who we also lost early…she was Ali’s friend. It’s as if when that owl brushed my shoulder…the moment our two paths crossed she opened up a door to memories of people I have lost. But it wasn’t their deaths I thought about…after that little owl arrived I spent the rest of that walk…smiling…remembering…when they were alive. Perhaps that was this owl’s message… at least it’s the best reason I can think of yet…. How we need to stop every now and then… to remember people we don’t want to forget.