We've been away the past couple of days at that luxury resort (not!) called the VA Medical Center, for my husband's knee replacement. He did so well they only kept him overnight--already he can walk up 5 steps. Amazing how quickly this is done these days.
As we drove through town we noticed fire and rescue vehicles heading east but didn't think much about it. We were both exhausted--you know how it is to try to sleep in hospital--and his pain meds were wearing off. So when we turned on to our road, we breathed a sigh of relief.
There was something special waiting for us: a bald eagle at the small lake that borders the road. We have seen him before, sitting in a tree, but today he was flying. So majestic. I told Larry it was a special token to welcome him home.
Further along the road two women were digging some wildflowers. I remember doing that when I moved here. Now I'm content to leave them in their native habitat. We stopped to talk a minute and they told us we would have to take the other way home--apparently there is a large brush fire on the way we usually travel. When we got to the top of our ridge, we could see the smoke from the fire. Neighbors were gathered, trying to figure out just where it was, because it seems to be not too far away. Plans were being discussed about moving livestock, but since we have only chickens, dogs and cats, we continued on to home because Larry was completely worn out.
Getting him to the house was a long, hard ordeal for him. While he's doing well, the leg is still very painful and it's hard physical work to walk, go up steps, etc. But as we were inching along, a flash of orange in a nearby tree caught my eye. A Baltimore Oriole is visiting our feeders on his migratory way north! I took it as yet another sign that all will be well with my poor old man.
Now he's sleeping, and I'm unpacking, reading instructions for care and medication, making phone calls, and keeping an eye outside for any telltale smoke. We had a small brush fire here a couple months back and it's no fun. God bless the firemen!
No photos today--just getting through the day has been enough. But what memories--all good, I hope, if the fire is put out.
Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.
