I’m trying to find the words to describe what the magic of yesterday meant to me. I woke up feeling unsettled. Disturbed. Scared even. Trying to find some peace about the state of our world. But one of my former eighth graders, Austin (who’s all grown-up now and father to an amazing grade schooler), gave me a huge gift yesterday that helped me remember what a wonderful world we live in. Austin invited me to help chaperone a group of youngsters on a four-mile birding adventure near Edison, Washington. It was cosmic, my friends. The snow geese flew circles around us – it felt like we were inside a snow globe of snow geese!; the trumpeter swans and Canada geese honked their greetings to us as they flew by; a mama horned owl eyed us from her perch above her nest; a seal raised his head above the Samish River; eagles flew all around us; and peacocks! – yes, there were even peacocks! – and I took a photo that proves that peacocks actually DO fly (sort of).

My lungs got all filled up with fresh air and my soul got all filled up with beauty today. I don’t know how to begin to thank Austin for this gift.

Go to this link for pics: https://bellinghambayblog.wordpress.com/2022/02/27/a-gift-of-fresh-air-and-birds/