Walking. With Ellie.

Posted on by Live & Learn

Good morning from Connecticut. Today, makes it 1,467 consecutive (almost) days on this daybreak morning walk at Cove Island Park. Like in a Row.

We were primed for another rant following last week’s diatribe: “Ladies Give Me Your Best Shot.” All the targeted Ladies (aka Sawsan) went scurrying back to her Den (with her Broom). Her replacement, while not an total embarrassment, is on her way to earning that merit badge shortly.

So, there’s one Lady left standing. I asked Susan if I can share more specifics about her OCD, that being her neuroses with light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs. Wally and I got a hostile reaction, and decided that this was a red line not to be tested.

I walk, wandering, ruminating. What shall we blog about today? Is it…

  • How I gained 10 lbs in 10 days? (Cake!)
  • How my insomnia has progressively deteriorated during the same period? (Cake?)
  • Why my Doctored-ordered Glucose test (a pre-diabetic alert) reported an alarming upward trend? (Cake?)

I walk.

I noodle these issues (and others), feeling the weight of their drag.

My mind turns to a University Hospital, less than 60 minutes up I-95 North. At this moment, good friends have returned to the Hospital with their infant daughter Ellie. This hospital stay will likely keep them in Hospital through their first Mother’s Day, with timing of returning home uncertain.

I walk.

I look out over the horizon.

And here they come.

15-20 minutes before (almost) every sunrise, they come — Birds, it’s feeding time.

First it’s black dots, then it’s the outline of the flock, then it’s the audio growing louder, the Call of the Wild, with the added percussion from the beating of the wings. My breath slows. My skin tingles. I follow them in my viewfinder as they approach the coastline.

If there is a God, he’s built this.

It’s Atlantic Brants this morning. Their wings beat fiercely until they approach the beach, wings fully outstretched as they glide down in their descent, then softly splashing down among the safety of the flock.

You too Ellie, you too.

I stand and watch up to one hundred Brants feeding and tuk-tukking along the shoreline.

Adonis: “I clear a space [ ] for myself.”

I continue my walk down the beach, feeling lighter now.

Yes Rick, Yes.

“I am here today. Will I be here tomorrow? I will live today.” — Rick Georges with Alive.

Note: DK photos from this morning’s walk here.

83 thoughts on “Walking. With Ellie.”

  5. Prayers for little Ellie – holding them close to my heart…Somehow the ruminations pale – you insomnia is almost essential as you walk to the Cove before sunrise (and honestly, there is only one way someone can read, stream, photograph, ponder, etc- as much as you do if you did sleep longer and deeper. (I am not advocating for your wakefulness, just am always awed by how much you do in a day – and somewhere in there, work must raise its head). The bountiful, raucous Brants insist on celebrating their arrival, and insist that you focus on them – and that’s a good thing.

  7. On a lighter note, (this is just my personal opinion)… I cannot picture Sawsan “scurrying“ (in a defensive way) anywhere! LOL. My best guess is that she has taken a quick break to reload with larger caliber ammunition! (That’s a compliment Sawsan!) 😉

          5. Sawsan, he was teasing you. Couldn’t you have at least seen something so obvious. And you being a Translator. Frightening what you must be translator for people who need the help. #LOSTLEADINGTHELOST

          12. Paul, my days are (mostly) good. It‘s because I‘m Swiss and you know, Swiss people are ‚neutral‘. Let them fight it out. Just observe, smile and/or shake your head. Have another coffee, beer, ice cream or wine….. it will end one way or another!

    2. I don’t need a break. I’m giving him a break. He’s running out of breath. You know me too well, Paul.

        1. Hey… I’m not negotiating a peace agreement between you two (which will never happen!)… I refuse to get in the middle of this. Please attack each other directly as you see fit!

          If I need to choose sides in whatever issue is in play at any given time, I guarantee you I will jump in armed to the teeth! (I have been taught the hard way that staying on the fence is not allowed! 😁😁😁).

          5. I considered bringing the two of you to the negotiating table to see if I could help set up a peace agreement. But then I realized that you both have nuclear weapons, and I am currently unarmed (subject to change without notice!) So I disappeared into my lizard cave! This is way above my pay grade! (the lizard goes back to being very quiet) 😁

      1. (Copy of my previous comment follows…)

        Hey… I’m not negotiating a peace agreement between you two (which will never happen!)… I refuse to get in the middle of this. Please attack each other directly as you see fit!
        If I need to choose sides in whatever issue is in play at any given time, I guarantee you I will jump in armed to the teeth! (I have been taught the hard way that staying on the fence is not allowed! 😁😁😁).

  8. So, sorry that a sweet little sweetheart, name Ellie is ill and in the hospital…My prayers go out to her, her parents and their family…

  10. Watched the video again…. do have to say… love the brants and their landing. So soft and silent. So eloquent.

    BUT….Just curious. Did you trip at the end? The video was and so unsteady. Like you lurched forward. I was worried you may have fallen? Hope you are ok. #meritbadge4who?

    2. “brants” should be “Brants” to show them the appropriate respect. Would you write “god” or “God.” As to eloquent, “eloquent” is associated with being fluent in speaking or writing and not the description of birds in flight. As to tripping, I did not. I certain did not LURCH. Last time I checked, I didn’t have deep facial cuts on my face or hands, best to keep sharp and/or hot objects from those body parts. As to video quality, I have acknowledged that I am coming up a learning curve and still have a ways to go. I’m not close to delivering the quality of your videos which are impressive, and I’ll acknowledge that, but will say, it’s only a matter of time and I’ll be wiping Cove Island Park with you and your videos – with my accelerating learning. It’s only time. Because at the end of the day, you quit, I don’t, it’s a long race.

      1. Sorry, was having trouble following that long rant. Reason 1: You started sentences with lower case letters. Reason 2: It was an avalanche of all CAPS (I assume you are shouting at your computer as you type)… slashes, dashes and quotation marks /-“”…. Reason 3: You used the phrase ” with my accelerated learning” and that just felt wrong.

        Ironically, I commented (just a shade before you on this post) on ” Sunday Morning” blog with the same ending. The race is long indeed. Keep up. You seem to be just a fraction behind me.

          1. What was hard to follow? The bold headers? List format? Complete sentences?

        2. Cara, I love you with all my heart. Wrestling this man for the past 10 years hasn’t been easy. And you miraculously showing up in our lives is the biggest blessing. I’m guessing this is why our Queen, Susan, let’s him run loose. Poor woman needs a break!!!

      2. Dk, who is the English second language speaker who taught you this lesson? Give credit! The rule was, all that is sacred is capitalized.

  11. A stunning video – give la nature! And much worrying about things happening I have no idea about. Not that I need to know everything but I never read anything about so much going wrong in the lives of ppl I care for. I hope for the best for little Ellie, we have had a fair share of ‚needless‘ early deaths in the past and when it‘s about little kids, it‘s especially heartbreaking. Maybe I missed a few of your posts.
    I wouldn‘t overly worry about Sawsan. She knows what is needed – and what the heck would you do if that fabulous sparring partner went awol (again)? Nobody has you in hand like she has…. And what should happen to your wife? I am really worried now.

  12. Birds send the soul soaring far better than a glucose test. Never had one, don’t need it. Sugar is a thing i Cannot do anymore, or if i dare it, my stomach surges acid so bad it cures me of the desire. Good luck with ‘all that.’ 🦤

    1. Thanks Bela! Agree with you on birds!

      The birds will always inhabit the earth, the birds calling the dawn. — Paul Lynch, Prophet Song (Atlantic Monthly Press, December 5, 2023)

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