Deeply Moving
I had been thinking I would do another post with shots from a variety of mornings until yesterday morning happened. I had gone to Silvio the previous day and witnessed a gorgeous sunrise and a very quiet morning in the wildlife department. So I decided I would go back yesterday morning - gorgeous temps - a little above freezing and absolutely no wind. I pulled in the parking lot and got out of the car hoping I would hear a hoot or two - no hoots but a sweet rabbit hopped over to say to good morning. I pulled out my gear - I had bought a new tripod the day before so I was looking forward to trying it out. I started on the loop trail and went extremely slowly listening intently and really taking my time scanning the trees, weeds, grasses, twigs and sky for any sightings. The sky was without a cloud - a beautiful blue sky. Just as I rounded one of the curves in the trail I heard the unmistakable honking of a flock of geese heading my way. I scanned the sky behind me and sure enough - the “V” was approaching in spectacular morning light. I set up quickly hoping they would continue on the path that they were on because the moon was high in the sky in front of me while the sun was rising behind and they were headed right towards the moon…. Well… it finally happened like I have hoped for during many, many outings…. here you go…
I decided that I loved my new tripod after that series……. :)
I kept along my loop and it was gorgeous… very quiet but beautiful. I kept scanning and scanning for an owl… but no luck. When I got to the end of the loop I decided to do the loop again. More birds were starting to chirp and the sun was now poking through some of the taller trees as I continued along. I was scanning the field at the last platform with the sun directly shining in my eyes just hoping I would see an owl along the edge of field. Still no luck….As I entered the woods again on the trail not 30 feet from that last platform, I stopped dead in my tracks and looked to my left. And there she was…… in the most beautiful low early sunlight…. Not only was she sitting there she had a vole. I know that I stopped breathing… no question about that. She was no more than 12 feet away from me - I have never been so close to an owl before. There was not a sound coming from anywhere. As quietly as possible I spread the legs of my tripod and set it down gently and then took the following shots…. all the while totally overwhelmed because I felt Lorraine’s presence so profoundly. No doubt she was telling me that I could see for myself that her spirit is everywhere. She also wanted me to see that she had snagged the biggest vole in the field - of course she had!
I was in her presence for 1 min and 37 seconds… and it will last me for my lifetime… Here you go…
I felt that she was ready to take flight any moment now so I just zoomed in as much as I can as I knew I was too close to try and get her in flight… and I guessed correctly. Here is my last shot….
As soon as she flew silently through the woods I felt as if I had been hit by a speeding train. I was so filled with so many emotions that my grief took me to my knees… It knocked me down and yet it also filled me up… The absolute beauty of this encounter was so deeply moving that I wept for the loss of Lorraine and everything she was to me. And yet at the same time I knew in my heart that she will always be with me. Her love for me… her love for all of us… was, and is, so complete and so generous that it knows no bounds. She does not have to be on this earth for us to feel her presence and love always.
I am truly grateful…..