Hopalong Hollow....

Hopalong Hollow, where the Blueberries grow sweet, and the moss feels soft beneath your feet.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Was it Esther?

  I hesitated about writing this post, because it has a bittersweet ending. But life is sometimes bittersweet, sad, and unpredictable. Here is how it all began:It is past midnight and we are retiring for the night when we hear an odd scratching noise that seems to be coming from inside our wall. After  investigating the area to no avail, I decide to go outside to see if the wind is causing branches to scrape against the house. James is very sick with flu, so I go outside with my flashlight and shine it up towards our bedroom where I see the source of the sound immediately. A little bird seems to be caught in the twisted dried out wisteria vines that have traveled up the side of the house, right next to the electrical cables, I might add. The bird is flapping it's wings forcefully to no avail with skinny legs splayed sideways. I dash upstairs and tell James a bird is stuck in the vines, I will need the ladder! I don't tell him I will need the  extension ladder AND will need to stand on the very top rung. He tells me to stay away from the electrical cords and DON'T use the extension ladder. But of course, I do.

 At first I try to dislodge the vines with the handle of a broom, no dice. So I discard my bathrobe and begin my  accent higher up  the ladder in my nightgown with a flashlight on my head and the pruners in my hand. In order to reach the bird,  I have to travel to the top step on the ladder.
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(Bathrobe still here the next morning)
 I am able to assess  the situation. The bird has it's little head stuck betwixt  and between dried, knotted vines of wisteria, the vines seems to be strangling the poor little thing. If I cut that vine in just the right place it should dislodge the bird and allow it to fly off. but when I cut the vine, the little bird tumbles into my hand. I slowly descend the ladder holding the bird in a loose grip. I hope to open my palm and release her when we get to the ground, but she seems unable to fly, instead she falls to the earth, so I bring her up to my studio. Here in the light I can see that I am holding an adult starling. Esther was a baby starling. I put her in a safe place with water and chicken scratch. Poor little thing is exhausted, who knows how long she had been imprisoned in the vines?!  

The next morning I see  she is hopping about the room on one leg and dragging the other. I sit on the floor and offer a kernel of corn, she hops over and takes it from my fingers and then she hops on my arm!

 It is odd that a wild bird would be so obliging... Could it be possible? NAW, this can't be Esther, can it? It's been two years since I set free the little starling fledgling that I raised for  months, after it had been attacked by a mad mother hen who poked it's eye and broke it's wing. If you have read this blog for any length of time, you will remember my sweet Esther. Esther was still young when she flew off to freedom, and had not yet acquired the beautiful flecked feathers with iridescent highlights.

    I talk softly to this sweet bird and she falls asleep in my hand. For the rest of the day, I leave her in the studio, checking her condition regularly. 


She seems to be recuperating and is sitting on the window sill... then she falls off and onto the floor. I carefully pick her up and turn on some nice music. I always played music for Esther and she would sing her little head off. This little bird turns her head and faintly chirps, once.

 Is it possible that for the last 2 years my little Esther has lived her life in the treetops right above my head?  Watching from the branches as I garden below her? Building nests and raising babies and observing us all this time? Or am I just being silly? 

I am beginning to feel an emotional tie to the little creature, When she is healed I will be sad to let her go...but I will. Alas, I did not get the chance, for the next time I checked on her she was stretched out on the floor, little legs stiff. Sure that she was dead, I tearfully held her and she began to move about. For 15 minutes she lay in my palm, slowly moving her head, faintly fluttering a wing, then she opened wide her beak, she stretched her little body full length .... and died.    DID I cry?? Of course I did. Big. wet teardrops  that fell on her feathers. 

My head says  that this was not Esther, I mean, what are the chances?! And if it was Esther, it will  mean she really is gone forever.  But my heart tells me this was Esther. And as fanciful as that may seem, it would be fitting for the little bird who spent the first months of her life with me as her mama, should spend the last moments of her life with me as her comforter. Perhaps I am just a romantic.. but I am, after all, a storyteller. And I am glad she did not die alone up in the treacherous vines that held her captive for God knows how long, but she died with a friend who cared about her.

I'm sorry for the sad post on this day, I promise to be more joyous the next time.. but I thought you would want to know.

34 comments:

  1. Oh gracious-I'm crying all over the keyboard! What a precious story-thank you -she picked a most loving human to care for her...

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  2. Oh dear Jeri ~ what a heart breaking little story. But, if this was indeed little Esther, I think it's a sweet story. She went to heaven where all God's creatures are and she is singing away. You gave her love in the beginning and then at the end of her life.

    Love and hugs to you ~ FlowerLady

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  3. Oh Jeri, I am in tears.. Could it be? I think so Jeri.... I remember dear little Esther, and how you cared for her.. So to think that she may want to spend her days living close to you in the treetops is not so far fetched.. I don't ever recall a little bird taking to a human like she did with you... I guess what really is important here is that you were there to pluck this wee bird out of the tree and comfort her. When I said you were a friend to all creatures great and small, this is just want I meant... Bless you dear friend, I am so sorry.

    p.s. I have a robe just like that! (different color) Don't forget to grab your robe. I am so glad you did not fall off that ladder!
    Hope James feels better... Give him my best.





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  4. So sweet. Reminds me of our Ducky. I wish we had been with her the last few moments.
    Caring for God's creatures is never empty sadness.
    Bless you!

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  5. I rescued a baby starling that had fallen out of his nest. I remember the bonding process in my heart. It was a spiritual thing that manifested into something that was quantifiable physically.
    When he died in my hands, the PHYSICAL pain was matched with my emotional pain. I cried every day for a week. I still remember that tiny little creature and mourn. I used to hold him in my hands and put my face into his breast feathers and smell that wild, clean, peppery warm life.
    There are no such things as coincidences. Your sweet little Esther came back to say goodbye.

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    1. I know that when my favorite goose died, I cried for 3 days...

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  6. What a tear inducing story. Thank you for sharing a true story of compassion. It made me cry but it also reminded me that we are called to be kind to any and all. You have truly blessed my day. Oma Linda

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  7. What a moving story. I think you are right.it must be Ester. What a beautiful birdu..so glad you could be there for her. I think you will see her again one day in heaven. She will be waiting for you when your time comes hopefully not for a long time though.

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  8. Thank you for telling us the story would not end well so that I was prepared! But as you say, if this was indeed Esther, it was so sweet that she could be with you when her time came. It reminds me that God so cares for the sparrow that not a single one can fall to the ground without Him knowing it. That is indeed GOOD NEWS for US because He cares even more for us. Good health wishes for James, but I dare say the timing of this allowed you to rescue Esther yourself. I know my husband would have insisted that he be the one to go up on that ladder....

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    1. Yes, My husband HAD to be sick.. he never would have allowed me up that ladder with my bad knee, and as much as I have influenced him in loving all creatures, I don't know if he would have gone up the ladder either, with a bad hip.

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  9. Jeri, theres no doubt in my mind that your visitor was Esther. She didnt leave the Hollow, she's been around among the other critters, feathered and furry. She peeped at the music to tell you, its me Mom! It is bittersweet to have found her only for her days to come to an end. But, there is a time and place for everything and she will be always in your heart. She knew you loved and cared for her and like Cathy above says, James being sick, was not a coincidence. This time was special for you and Esther. Blessings to you, Deborah Rogers Mercy

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  10. Aww, my heart tells me that it was Ester, coming to be with you in her final hours. Bless you for taking care of her.

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  11. Teary story. Sad. Loving. I believe the bird is Esther coming home to be with her love one at the end of her life. The heart is strong. My sympathies for your loss.

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  12. Jeri your story touched my heart and made me teary eyed. Who knows friend maybe it was really Esther...seems to me like maybe she just needed to tell you how grateful she was for the life you saved once before and to say good bye. God bless you and all his creatures. Take care.

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  13. Jeri, this really pulls at my heartstrings because while it is a bittersweet story, if it was indeed your sweet Esther, there's only one way her story could end--With you who cared the most about her.

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  14. I am going to get zapped.... eyes leaking into the keyboard. :(((((
    Yes... I too am glad you were with her when she left... and more so that you saved her from the vines...

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  15. You did the best you could. Sweet ending to a precious life.

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  16. Aw so sad it brought tears to my eyes. But how wonderful for the little bird whether or not it was Esther, to have a loving being with her during her last hours. Blessings to you.

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  17. Oh it was bittersweet , but a caring story to be told .
    I too am a romantic , would be fateful that you were with there to give her comfort and care, at the beginning and the end.

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  18. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story. Even though I was prepared for an unhappy ending, I still cried. God bless your tender loving heart.

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  19. I'm speechless. A truly beautiful story.

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  20. Jeri, This is truly a bittersweet story. I know your heart ached, but how dear the little thing had you to care till the end. I want to think your little friend has been living above and about for these two years. Hugs!

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  21. Dear little thing. I feel like crying too. so sad. we will never know if it was little Ester. but the dear little thing died with love surrounding her... not alone.

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  22. Oh Jeri, I am so sorry. I am touched that someone else loves animals as much as I do. It is bound to happen, but hurts no less every time.

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  23. Did I weep at your beautiful story? You can believe I did......Was it Esther?...In
    a way I, too, hope so...A poetic, even if bittersweet, closing to a relationship where one of God's little creatures met your tender heart and crossed the veil of
    knowing and relationship. What a beautiful bird she was and what a beautiful soul you possess and share with us. I still maintain there is a special crown for you in Heaven, not to mention a bevy of creatures to meet you in love.
    Hello to James with prayers for his speedy and complete recovery.
    Our Mary

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    1. Our Mary, I knew you would remember Esther. I do hope to again meet the many creatures I have known and loved In Heaven.

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  24. Oh Jeri~
    I am so sad and crying now after reading your post. I am so glad you were able to retrieve the bird (and did not get hurt) and care for it. I feel the same way about our birds that visit us in our yard. Below zero temperatures here and I am worrying about them daily as we feed/water them. They are all so special. Thank you for caring for all of God's creatures. ~Christine

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  25. I love birds. I go out in my gown and slippers to fill feeders and bird baths in the middle of the night when I forgot during the day. It could possibly have been your Esther. We have wrens that take up housekeeping same place on our back porch. We have another one that makes a nest in a bush at our office. Who knows? But I am glad she was with you when she went to birdie heaven.

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  26. Oh Jeri, who would not be in tears while reading of such a touching experience? Of course it could have been Esther--and though you'll never know for sure, you know you did all you could to help her. She truly came home, whether she was Esther or not.

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  27. Poor little bird. Whether it was Esther or not, you provided comfort such as all creatures deserve. You are storing up blessings and good karma, my friend.

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  28. Oh my! As others, I cried too. I can't imagine another Starling being so calm in your presence if it were not Esther. What a bittersweet, but charming tale. Thank you for sharing it!

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  29. If she wasn't Esther, she knew Esther and knew it was her time and so she came to someone who would love her and give her comfort and care in the end. You are a gem.

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  30. I'm new here, and don't know the old story of Esther, but I do feel this must have been a friend who came to one she trusted for her last days <3 She knew the trust was in you.
    Now I must run to get a tissue <3

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