Onward
This is it. The last Creature Thoughts before I retire at the end of October. I move onward with both hope and sorrow. Things will change, and the hope is that these changes will be better for my health. The sorrow is obvious. I will miss so many of you and, of course, your beloved pets.
It’s fitting that autumn is the season to depart from the life I’ve lived for the past quarter century. Many species of animal go through significant changes in the fall. Those who hibernate fatten up, preparing for the long winter’s rest. Others scurry in the underbrush, gathering stores to get them through the hard months. Our black walnut tree has been throwing its goodies into our backyard for weeks now, and the squirrels and chipmunks are having a field day.
The migratory birds are ready for their big change as well.
I haven’t seen any hummingbirds today. I watch for the day that they will simply not be here. I’ve had a couple of stragglers this year (as with most years). An adult female and a juvenile male have lingered at the feeders. I watched them for some time yesterday, knowing that I would wake up one morning to find them gone.
That morning may be today. I’m still watching, wondering if I’ll spot them, but it’s nearly noon and there has been no sign.
Hummingbirds have always fascinated me. I rarely saw them in my childhood home, yet here in the back woods of upstate New York, they are abundant. The only species of hummingbird we have on the East Coast is the ruby-throated. I’ve said many times that I would love to visit the West Coast someday just to see other kinds of hummingbirds.
They truly are an incredible miracle of evolution. They defy gravity in the way they hover and buzz, flying backward and forwards, pausing in space. Their metabolism is incredibly fast, and their movements lightning quick. Those tiny wings beat at more than 50 times per second.
The most amazing thing about them, though, is how far they travel every year between their summer breeding grounds (my front yard) and their winter homes. These tiny jewels of the bird world spend their winters in Mexico and Central America, with some finding sanctuary in the Gulf Coast areas of Florida. For many of these birds, this means a 2,000-mile journey.
And here I’m nervous about the big change that is coming in my life next month. Heck, I don’t even have to leave home.
Hummingbirds, as with so many of nature’s inhabitants, are an inspiration. The dangers they endure and the challenges they overcome year after year, on their long treks homeward, never cease to amaze me. If they can make it all the way to Costa Rica, and return to my feeders next spring, I can take this next leap, too.
It will be a huge change, there is no doubt about that. I’m a bit like a cat when it comes to change (everyone out there with cats is laughing right now). But, if the hummies can do what they must do, I can leap, and trust that I will land on my feet.
Whatever adventures life holds in store for you, know that I send you courage, fortitude, and love. And know that, as long as you have your beloved animal companions beside you (even those who are only now beside you in spirit) … you will never walk alone.
News and Updates
Yes, this is it. The last Creature Thoughts before retirement … but not the last Creature Thoughts. I plan to continue the bi-monthly newsletter and hope to stay in touch with many of you. If you have topics you’d like to see covered in future issues, please feel free to let me know.
Thank you to everyone who replied to my question about changing the newsletter format. I’ve decided to keep things as they are, but also add another “subscribe” option on the newsletter page. That will send out a simple email whenever I post anything on the site (not just Creature Thoughts itself). Quite a few people have found the link already. It’s located here:
If you’d like, you can also visit me on my author website:
Gayle Nastasi – My Writing Life
Those of you who’ve been around for a while may also remember the old account I kept of my Pyoderma Gangrenosum journey. I’ve recently converted that old Evernote notebook (which wasn’t working properly anymore) to a WordPress blog. Note that there are some pretty graphic images, but for those who are interested in a rather ugly stroll down memory lane:
The Monster Under My Bed | Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Many of you also stay in touch on Facebook, a few on Twitter and Instagram (neither of which I use all that frequently), as well.
So, you all know where to find me!
Thank you for the joy you’ve brought into my life over the last several decades. Know that as I step forward in my migration, I carry you with me with love.
Gazehound's 