Animal omens

While walking across the Montlake bridge to work this morning, I saw a sandhill crane* fall out of the sky, hit a bridge support and land in the middle of traffic. I was unnerved. It was barely moving and seemed unable to walk or fly. I stood staring at it and tried to track down the Fish and Wildlife number. A couple of other pedestrians went into the traffic, shoo'ed the crane onto the sidewalk, and then gently deposited it into a bush-covered area away from the noise and people. I stayed with the bird and eventually got through to Fish and Wildlife. By then it had tumbled down a flight of bridge stairs and was hobbling its way down another. Almost broke my heart. F&W said they'd contact a biologist but I'm sure the crane was long gone by the time they arrived, if ever.

Despite all of that, crows were the most unnerving part of the experience. They went NUTS when the crane fell onto the bridge and continued screeching while I stayed watch over it. After I could see that the crane wasn't going to wait around for human help, I continued walking to work. A pack of 5 or 6 crows followed me and dive-bombed my head.

Crows are intelligent creatures. This pack, and perhaps others who were informed, will remember me. I'm curious to see if they dive-bomb me on Monday morning. I'll be out of town the rest of next week and then am extra curious to see if they dive-bomb me the following Monday. Now I have a reputation in the crow community. I can't decide if I'm scared, honored, or both.

There is a message in these animal encounters I've had recently but I can't figure out what it is.

* - according to the Seattle Audobon Society website, sandhill cranes are the only cranes in Washington state. To my untrained eye, the bird looked like a heron.

Saying Goodbye, Part II

Last night I held a dead cat. Everyone, including the cat and her owner, knew the end was coming but it was difficult to endure when it actually arrived. I have a sincere fondness for felines and that one will be missed.

Read this in a Modern Love column and it speaks to me:

It doesn't seem fair that we can look back and connect the dots in life, and see what led from that to this, but we cannot look forward and anticipate in any way what constellation today's dots will form in the vast space ahead of us. I guess it's just best to assume that heaven is right here, right now, and let the stars fall where they may.

-Margaret Gunther