H is For...

Because I'm a slacker and the Heavens Luuuvvv to throw a monkey wrench into my best laid plans, this post will cover both the letters "G" and "H" as brought to you by Sesame...oh sorry. Um Oh yeah the letter "G"


Gangster Birds



My dad is a lover of nature, which I share but his current obsession is birds. Much to my mother's irritation. My dad knows all the types of locals birds and what they like to munch on and how best to put their birdhouses, feeding platforms, umbrellas in their little drinks and so on.





Sitting on their porch I listened to the call of the many winged creatures and made a decision (this is where you insert ominous music). I wanted more birds in my yard. The seemed so fun and happy and full of life.


"Dad, what kind of seed should I get to feed the birds." I asked


"It depends on what kind of bird you want to attract." said the expert

"The kind with feathers." I snickered


"For amateurs like you it would be best to get X brand" Dad said


Our conversation continued but it was boring so I won't go into detail. Except to say I went to the feed store and looked for brand X and it was freaking EXPENSIVE. I could not see paying that much for seeds to throw on the ground and hope a bird would come by and eat it before the rain washed it away. So I called up the ole' father figure.


"Hey Dad, Can I just get G brand seeds since their the cheapest?"


I had already paid for G brand but I wanted to make sure.


"NO. Do NOT get the cheapest feed. You don't want the wrong kind of birds knowing where you live." he said


"UM OK, whatever , ok Dad I'll get the X brand. Bye" I said

The thought occured to me Dad might be going crazy. Granted the seeds didn't look as pretty and clean as the other brand but come on these birds where eating them off the DIRT.

The first day went great. I threw some seeds out and sat back and watched a few brightly colored species come in and daintily scratch and eat the food I had lovingly provided.

The next day I tossed some more out and was amazed at the number that flew in. It was freaky. As if they had called their buddies up and told them where the food was. After all the seed was gone they did something strange. They didn't fly away. The birds just sat there, looking around. Some where looking at me. It creeped me out so I went inside.

As usual I was busy the next day and didn't through any seed out. I left to go to the store and it was eerily quiet outside. Walking to my car I noticed hundreds of birds sitting around. In the trees. On the porch. On the roof of my car. Running back inside the house I collapsed in a seat and tried to figure out what to do.

Hearing a tapping on the back door I peeked out the window and saw something I will never forget. A steel gray dove sat on my doorstep. He had no feathers on his wings and I could see him flexing his tiny wing muscles, making the naked bird lady tattooed on his arm dance. Around his neck hung a cat's paw on a necklace.

Tap
Tap
Tap

His beak hit the glass and sent chills down my spine. Looking more closely at the other petite avians, I noticed several of them had piercings in the most inappropriate places. I think one Blue Jay was packing but he kept his hood pulled low so I couldn't identify him.
Not knowing what to do I called my dad.

"I told you not to use the cheap bird seed. There's nothing you can do now. They know where you live." he said before hanging up.

Slowly as to not give them any reason to attack, I walked out and threw extra seed to them. The dove nodded at me and threw me a piece sign.

The morale of this story is don't be a cheap a$$ and buy crappy seed.

ON TO THE LETTER H.

H is For......


Hope.
Here is a fitting poem from Emily Dickinson about Hope.


Hope
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me



Happy Writing and I promise to get around to all of your blogs sometime this weekend.

11 comments:

  1. Obviously the little "hope" bird was never fed the cheap seed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful poem, thanks for posting it. I've only ever seen the first 2 lines!

    Loved loved LOVED the gangster birds story, awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can relate to your Dad's fancy with birds - he wants the best for them! At The Farm I just let them feed on the fruits.

    Nice poem - about birds too...

    Thank you. Hope to see you soon.

    Grandpa
    Life on The Farm

    ReplyDelete
  4. OMG, I had to force myself to read this....LOL! I am so afraid of birds and then when your post got scary,I swear I looked out the window to see if any birds were hanging around....It all stems from that horrible move, "The Birds" and a bad episode of a crazy seagull that has been stalking me now for two years! No, I am not kidding! Another story for another time. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  5. So that's how Hitchcock got all those birds to just sit around. And all these years, I'd simply assumed the most were fakes.

    Don't buy the cheap stuff unless you're baking 4 and 20 blackbirds into a pie... got it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love that poem. I haven't read it in ages. Thanks so much.
    Edge of Your Seat Romance

    ReplyDelete
  7. You cracked me up with this bird feeding post. We are bird feeders and its actually true about the feed. We bought a new "high energy" cheaper suet that had an oily texture to it. All the birds were wiping their beaks on the tree and grass. Guess what? It is all still there today untouched with a big "Ptooey!" sign hung above it in bird writing. We're going shopping later. I have a reputation to think of.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I absolutely adore your humor and this post! I am a big birder, too. Unfortunately, I cannot put any seed down--it attracts the bears.
    "I noticed several of them had piercings in the most inappropriate places. I think one Blue Jay was packing but he kept his hood pulled low so I couldn't identify him." Hysterical!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I had no idea birds had gangs. I totally believe it. Haven't you seen the Hitchcock movie "The Birds?". In fact, I don't like birds because of that movie. I saw it when I was 10. I think I'm scarred for life.

    ReplyDelete

I encourage disccusions, debates and all points of views. However, hurtful or offensive comments will be deleted.