Watching birds

This is a follow-up on the last entry. As we stood around waiting for the tram yesterday I saw a large heron fly over the park and off toward the mountains. It reminded me of the tour I did to Ventana cave and the Children's Shrine for the Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society about nine years ago.

As I am driving into the village of Santa Rosa, approaching the Children's Shrine there was a great blue heron standing in the middle of the road. It was simultaneously both incongruous and synchronised. We were in the middle of the Sonoran desert but we were there to visit the most sacred water site known to the O'odham.

I am not a person who goes anywhere to watch birds -- I just watch birds wherever I go. Taking this theme a little farther some years ago I was on my way down Speedway and saw a large bird flying high over the city traveling NW to SE. I immediately swerved across two lanes, and made a U-turn to try and follow the bird for as long as I could to try and ID it. I was hoping it was an eagle but eventually I figured out by the slow wing beat and general body shape it was a water bird -- a heron, again. Having discovered parts of Tucson neighborhoods I had never visited before and pissed off enough other drivers I resumed my original trek.

As Dr. Bil Hawkins would have said, "This AADD moment has been brought to you by . . ."

Another Walk

The girls and Joseph prepare to help Mary go wading at Sabino one last time.

Mary has gone on a new walk. For sixteen years I was lucky enough to be able to call her my adopted Mom. Today we released her mortal remains to wander Sabino and wherever else she chooses to go. It was a good place, cliffs, water, trees, a stretch of creek lined beach and people she loved, even more it was the canyon she loved.

She had told me once she wanted a handful of her ashes left on the trail to Pueblo Alto, also the trail to Wijiji, at sundown, the great kiva at Casa Rinconada and in the plaza of Penasco Blanco. She also wanted some left at the Village of the Great Kivas, at Hawikuh, Kinishba, Awatovi, Antelope House and Aztec. I remember I laughed and told her there wasn't enough of her to go around so Sabino would have to do.

She packed a lot of life into the last twenty years. I don't think she would give back any of it.

Perhaps my clearest picture of her is her toddling into The Inn at Farmington early one morning, having taken a brisk walk along the Animas River trail, couple of miles just to get herself ready for the day. I meanwhile, was dragging my rusty butt up to try and wolf down breakfast before we were scheduled to leave. She was a force of nature, a great companion of unflagging good humor who was always happiest to be off on another adventure. I can only hope she will enjoy this one near as much as all the others.