Just Curious Is All

I am, by nature, a curious sort. Born that way.

The other day I was looking out the back window at the birds.

I said, aloud, “Wow. So many Blackbirds.”

“Wonder where they’ve all been.”

“Why are they called Red-winged Blackbirds when they sure look orange to me?”

“Wonder why they have that orange on their wings anyway?”

Turned away from the window and my husband was staring and laughing at me.

He asked, “Are you done talking to the window?”

I replied, “Just curious is all.” 🙂

I figured the red (or orange) blaze probably had something to do with males displaying their bad, colorful selves to attract the ladies. I knew, since I was a little kid and learned (much to my dismay) that the pretty red Cardinal was the male, that the boy birds were nothing but a bunch of show-offs.

But my curiosity is not sated by my guessing or figuring. It’s actually stoked. I am so curious that I have to actually go and look this up later. I use the Dewey Decimal system. Okay, I just google it. And then I am satisfied. Sort of.

According to the different sources I checked there is absolutely no mention of orange. Just red! What?? Even if you google “Orange-winged Blackbird” it automatically comes up with “Red-winged Blackbird.” Like it’s a gaming system that’s been “fixed.” I typed orange!!!! I’m just wondering who has money on red! And how much????? LOL

For me, because curiosity is inherent, it just means that the day I am not curious is the day I’m not myself.

Message for the week. Be true to yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Living Life

My Granny, Margaret, died in 1979 when I was fifteen. Sort of felt robbed because I hardly knew her due to the fact she lived in Ireland. And I didn’t. I had always looked forward to an opportunity to know her better. But that is not what this posting is about today. It’s more about her dying and less about me feeling robbed.

She died in Rome, Italy. A dear friend of hers, Fr. Tomas O’Fiaich, was being elevated to Cardinal. She was like a mother to him. So, his friends and family flew over to Italy in support and celebration.

Granny died the evening before the event. Peacefully in her sleep.

You might think it is sad that she didn’t die in her own country. In her own house.

But I am thinking that she died happy. And in peace.

It was a joyous time for her. To see someone she loved be honored in this way. She was with her family and friends. And she was living life.

Margaret, the wife of a relative of mine, died last week while on holiday in Spain. I felt terrible when I heard the news. But it got me thinking again about Granny dying away from home and how they had to get her body back to Ireland for burial. Same for them. Not easy for the family to deal with during such a sad time.

I don’t know all the details of her death. But I thought again about how she died. She was on holiday with her family. Surrounded by loved ones. Maybe not all of them but she was still with loved ones. Celebrating the new year in a beautiful, relaxing place. I am sure it was a joyous time for her.

Like it was for my Granny.

Of course, everyone wishes for the final goodbye and everyone wants them to be with us awhile longer. I am not posting about what it is like for the ones left behind. I can’t even imagine. I am merely recognizing that there are a lot of ways to leave the earth. Being happy and peaceful sounds fortunate to me.

I’ve always said before that it is truly important to live life so that there is no guessing from survivors as to how the person felt about them. Your loved ones should know that they are loved. That’s the least we can do for them. So they can properly grieve.

So, I wonder again, does it really matter where you are when you leave this earth? But how? Isn’t it more important to leave when you are joyous? With loved ones? Living life.

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