I was driving our car down CA 24-E, a tiny squeak barely perceptible from the backseat, when it occurred to me: I honestly didn’t think I was this kind of person, and suddenly, here I am. This kind of person, in this case, is the kind of person who finds a tiny, squeaking animal who appears to be abandoned and spends the next 24 hours completely subsumed with figuring out how to rescue it. I’m talking tiny pipettes full of sugar water, desperately googling about desired bird temperatures, and a roller coaster of emotions—all for a newly hatched quail.
Jun 15, 2022·edited Jun 15, 2022Liked by Courtney Martin
A couple years ago we were riding our bikes back from the beach and my then 7 year-old daughter stopped ahead of us when she found a small hummingbird on the ground. She insisted we take it home so we made small nest out of a shirt in the bike basket, brought it home and I furiously started researching how to take care of a baby hummingbird. Everything I could find told this was probably not going to end well, but at this point we were invested. The neighborhood children had been notified and were crowded in our backyard taking turns feeding Honey (that was its' name now) with a dropper and some sugar water. I warned my girls that this was likely going to be a hospice journey, and later that afternoon they took Honey to their friends' house to watch over her while they played. When they came home they were all chattering about how all of a sudden Honey started flying around the kids' room and they opened a window and he/she flew away.
Two years later my younger daughter still brings up Honey when we see hummingbirds in our yard.
I'm so glad you had Squeaky Dan cross your family's path and that you shared your story with us all, I know Honey made ours a bit brighter to this day.
Oh bless you…I was earlier talking with a friend about taking all this hideous pain (tectonic mindfuck) and being okay with making a difference in a small sphere. You warm my heart. 💗
A beautiful expression of why and how to resist the fading of the light, any light, in any being ... this is hope for me, and also joy. To not know the outcome but to do the thing in the moment ... heart-swelling appreciation and love to you.
I'm thrilled and comforted at the same time by hearing your mellifluous voice. Thank you! Then, these exquisite photos of childlike wonder and compassion. This story is deeply moving because it shows what the Engaged Buddhists, especially Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama describe as the unity of all being in their voluminous writings about peace and love. Please keep this theme going as you explore the beauty of nature. DD
YES. there's something about being so overwhelmed at the immensity of the world's pain that pancakes us into our softest, and also most stubborn parts. a sort of "well WHY not, at this point?"
in some ways, it's like we're shaken loose enough to our attachments, hopes, and ways we think things should be to do something presently; like we're actually flippant enough to care?
Thank you -it's a great example of 'being present' and 'living in the moment.' Isn't it freeing when we take the risk to suspend our plans/schedules/shoulds to experience the immediate situation? There is so much beauty and wonder in this world, despite the mess. It only takes our willingness to stop, be curious, be flexible.
What a beautiful story Courtney! And what a wonderful lesson for your daughters to experience. Thank you for providing a heart hug to me this morning. ❤️
Just to say: Usually a little birdie like that is still under the care of its mother. Little birdies need to leave the nest as soon as possible — before they can take care of themselves — because, in the nest, they’re sitting ducks (so to speak) for predators. The momma bird still returns to her baby to feed it until it has strength to fly — unless a well-meaning human being or a hungry predator intervenes.
A couple years ago we were riding our bikes back from the beach and my then 7 year-old daughter stopped ahead of us when she found a small hummingbird on the ground. She insisted we take it home so we made small nest out of a shirt in the bike basket, brought it home and I furiously started researching how to take care of a baby hummingbird. Everything I could find told this was probably not going to end well, but at this point we were invested. The neighborhood children had been notified and were crowded in our backyard taking turns feeding Honey (that was its' name now) with a dropper and some sugar water. I warned my girls that this was likely going to be a hospice journey, and later that afternoon they took Honey to their friends' house to watch over her while they played. When they came home they were all chattering about how all of a sudden Honey started flying around the kids' room and they opened a window and he/she flew away.
Two years later my younger daughter still brings up Honey when we see hummingbirds in our yard.
I'm so glad you had Squeaky Dan cross your family's path and that you shared your story with us all, I know Honey made ours a bit brighter to this day.
Beautiful.
Oh bless you…I was earlier talking with a friend about taking all this hideous pain (tectonic mindfuck) and being okay with making a difference in a small sphere. You warm my heart. 💗
Yes! Simply, YES! (And, thank you!).
A beautiful expression of why and how to resist the fading of the light, any light, in any being ... this is hope for me, and also joy. To not know the outcome but to do the thing in the moment ... heart-swelling appreciation and love to you.
. . . and there goes my mascara. Beautifully written, Courtney. They say that crying produces endorphins, so thanks on that level, too.
Thank you Courtney. That's all I can say, right now
I'm thrilled and comforted at the same time by hearing your mellifluous voice. Thank you! Then, these exquisite photos of childlike wonder and compassion. This story is deeply moving because it shows what the Engaged Buddhists, especially Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama describe as the unity of all being in their voluminous writings about peace and love. Please keep this theme going as you explore the beauty of nature. DD
YES. there's something about being so overwhelmed at the immensity of the world's pain that pancakes us into our softest, and also most stubborn parts. a sort of "well WHY not, at this point?"
in some ways, it's like we're shaken loose enough to our attachments, hopes, and ways we think things should be to do something presently; like we're actually flippant enough to care?
Thank you -it's a great example of 'being present' and 'living in the moment.' Isn't it freeing when we take the risk to suspend our plans/schedules/shoulds to experience the immediate situation? There is so much beauty and wonder in this world, despite the mess. It only takes our willingness to stop, be curious, be flexible.
I'm hoping it gets easier the more we do it :)
What a beautiful story Courtney! And what a wonderful lesson for your daughters to experience. Thank you for providing a heart hug to me this morning. ❤️
Feels good to be reminded that there are good humans doing their best! Thank you
Just to say: Usually a little birdie like that is still under the care of its mother. Little birdies need to leave the nest as soon as possible — before they can take care of themselves — because, in the nest, they’re sitting ducks (so to speak) for predators. The momma bird still returns to her baby to feed it until it has strength to fly — unless a well-meaning human being or a hungry predator intervenes.