the birds, the birds

called my dad and had one of those heart to hearts we can have that outshine for me his hook, line, and sinker approach to fox news and sarah palin. a bird flew into my dad's house while we talked on the phone... it reminded him of the time a hawk flew through our living room window. i was 7, and we came home from going out to eat, and the hawk was flying around our living room, and i just looked up and watched what i thought was an eagle, a massive beast flying in the air with nails long enough to shred my dad in two. the hawk finally flew into the kitchen and smashed into the refrigerator. my dad told me to go out in the garage. i went out and prayed and prayed that my dad would be okay. i asked god to keep my dad safe, to give him the courage to deal with the angry hawk. after a little while, he opened the garage door and had a clothes basket upside down over the confused bird, its talons sticking through the holes of the basket. my dad raised the basket, and the hawk flew under his car. finally, he got a broom and pushed the bird, and off it flew into the night. i told my dad that god, maybe it was jesus, kept him safe.

today my dad let that bird fly around the house, saying maybe a cat will get it, while we talked, and i cried. he empathized about the pain of love triangles. he made some dramatic predictions. no one can truly predict anything. but he helped me think of some dramatic options, showed me that i can survive even the hairiest musical that could be called my life. when i had heard enough tall possibilities (and we hadn't even touched on mccain being elected), it was time for me to go and try to read. and my dad wondered what happened to that bird, how the hell it got in right then. he reminded me about the hawk. i was grateful for that memory. and i have an idea why that bird got in the house right then. my dad loved me tonight more than a bird flying in his own home. it is so good to be reminded of the love that cares more than the creatures invading our home.