I’m slumped on a beach chair.
Earbuds are pumping in music, partially muffling the surf.
My baseball cap is pulled down low.
My Kindle is in my right hand, blocking the sun, and the rest of me.
Unrecognizable. Unapproachable. Body language spewing “Prickly Man. No Talking.”
She ambles within 3 feet.
She inches closer, determined to get my attention.
I peak out from under my hat.
Her iris’ are mandarin oranges circling jet black darkness.
And both eyes are locked on mine.
She stares. And stares. And stares.
I go back to reading.
She inches closer. And begins to preen her tail feathers.
Middle Aged Man has managed to repel all bikini clad women.
And, now he’s getting hit on by a Pigeon. What a Stud!
She edges closer.
Within two feet now.
She flutters her feathers and lowers herself to sit.
And looks back up at me with her mandarins.
Could she be posing?
(I snap her picture. That’s her above)
What’s wrong with you?
She sees the bag. She’s conditioned. Be cute, get food.
Yet, let’s give her, her due.
She’s managed to get me to set down my Kindle.
She’s managed to get me to set down my music player.
She’s managed to get me to give her my full attention.
She’s managed to get me to hear the surf, unfettered with man noise.
She’s managed to get me to lift my head and see the beauty all around me.
A wind gust tips my hat back.
I burrow my feet into the cool sand and feel it between my toes.
I look down at the Pigeon.
She’s fallen asleep.
Pigeon has given up wooing Middle Aged Man. He’s hopeless. She decides to take a nap.
Credits: Pigeon Head picture at bottom of post: Gordon Wolfold.
“Middle Aged Man has managed to repel all bikini clad women.
And, he’s now getting hit on by a Pigeon. What a Stud!”
David, oh, David…you are soooooo funny… lol! Mandarin Eyes gave you a gift, didn’t she? Be grateful for Mandarin Eyes… 🙂
She did Carol! I’m most grateful.
David, at our age…any attention is good. Take what you can get.
CAN’T STOP LAUGHING. So true.
And I’m still laughing.
Even I am laughing now too…at both of you! Lol!
Two old man laughing at themselves. There’s a picture.
I enjoyed that. Still smiling.
Thanks Anneli
Love this. All of it..and laughing at the ‘conversation’ too! Nice to close out my night with a grin….!
🙂 Thanks Bonnie
In one or the other corner of the small balcony attached to my room, a persistent set of pigeons relentlessly build and rebuild nests every other day. I was compassionate enough to allow my first set of bird eggs to turn into piggi pie and fly away. But the mess! Ever since I’ve just been throwing them eggs out and clearing the hopeless excuse of a nest these birds try to pass off as good enough incubator cum crib for the babies. So, since they can no more child rear on the balcony they have started using it as a communal toilet. Pigeons are the laziest and the most intrusive of all birds. To all grey pigeons of the world dislike dislike dislike. And like like like to your awesome post. Made me smile.
I was smiling reading your comment. Thank you for sharing…
well, it’s clear you’ve still got it, david ) sometimes the universe sends unusual messengers out to meet us.
Laughing. I’ve still got it alright.
LOL! I guess you seemed safe!
Laughing. I am.
See? She picked up that you were going to give this A LOT of thought, so she wanted to make sure you paid attention..
She’s genius.
That’s hilarious 🙂 She’s a beauty, too. How could you not fall for her charms?
Apparently I fell head over heels.
Pigeons are very clever little beings. She must have been feeling too tired to eat that day? 😉 I was just thinking, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pigeon on a beach, the seagulls normally rule the entire area. Perhaps the birds at your beaches live in greater harmony! 🙂
Could be. Could be. A zen bird.
This one wins. Bless the mandarin eyes.
🙂 Thanks Tiny
You are one in a million kind of person David. And I’m a BIG Fan of your sense of humor. 🙂
P.S. This time I’m taking this line, “She’s managed to get me to lift my head and see the beauty all around me…”
Awwwww, thank you for the kind words Sonia.