Just way too much fun!

I think this is what happened. My grandson was laughing so much when he gave me the story line – that I had to stop him a few times to totally understand.

First you need some background. My daughter Dana doesn’t like things that are wiggly, squiggly or hairy or fuzzy or have feathers and other odd things that you are not expecting. Come to think of it she also hates dead chickens… and stuffing a chicken that you are going to eat requires surgical gloves and other instruments to fill the chicken’s cavity.

Now to the story.

The family has been on vacation. They arrived at what my grandson said was a Loblaw’s Grocery Store. Outside the store was a bargain table which was situated close to the large glass window.

As Clifford stood their looking at the bargain table a little bird swooped in towards the store. Probably thinking that he had room to keep on going or the large glass window pane made it appear that he had more room… SPLAT – he hit the large glass pane… then fell stunned to the table top beside Clifford.

Way too Cool! A boring shopping trip was now alive with a twitching bird that had brained itself.

Emma our granddaughter was standing near by. When she saw what had taken place her inert nursing ability kicked in. She immediately picked the poor little Chickadee up in her hands.

Emma some day will be a Vet or a Major Surgeon of some kind. Yucky stuff doesn’t phase her at all. In fact she loves wiggly, squiggly or hairy or fuzzy or have feathers and other odd things that you are not expecting. She will pick them up just because.

Emma decided in a split second that she was going to take care of this little feathered patient – FOREVER! If she put it down something or someone would eat her new charge. There was no way that would happen.

My daughter Dana then became involved in the decision making process. There was no way under God’s beautiful heaven that the bird was going to travel back to the cottage for Emma to nurse it back to health. Her input was definitive. Done!

Emma however has a big heart, beautiful grin and can shed a tear in a heart beat.

More background…
The family owns a Honda Van with three rows of seats. Dad Bruce was driving. His Dad, Doug, was sitting beside him. The second row of seats is occupied by Dana, my daughter and her mother-in-law Sandra. The back seat was for Emma and her brother Clifford.

Emma finalized it… she boarded the Van with her new treasure cupped in her hands. Sitting down was the next challenge. With her hands cupping the Chickadee she realized that she needed to put her seat belt on. That meant putting the little bird down on her leg and doing up the seat belt.

The Van doors are closed by this time.

With the bird having received some CPR with Emma’s hot young hands… or perhaps having just waken up with the beginnings of nasty headache from hitting the window… IT WOKE UP… to squeals to delight from Emma. Her new pet was alive and well… and starting to flap its wings.

Her mom was sitting in front of her in a closed up van that was rolling… and with the sudden revelation that the bird was alive and fluttering wildly behind her… well… reacted rather oddly.

Clifford put it this way… “MOM FREAKED OUT…! So did Grandma! It was too funny.”

Now think for a minute Dana. It is a Chickadee….dee…dee. Not a CROW or an OWL. It is little and soft and cuddly. It is beautiful… not harmful.

I do not know where I went wrong in raising my daughter? Where did she get such a fear of living things?

Maybe it was the time that her mother and I were dating – and I found that giant Dragon Fly on the car front. I had plucked it off the grill and brought it back to Alida to let her see the beautiful creature… I can still remember Alida exiting the car out the passenger’s side and running down the road as fast as she could.

That crazy dragon fly almost ended one of the first dates with her… and maybe a lifetime relationship.

How in the world will Dana ever visit Emma’s Veterinarian Clinic in days to come?

Back to the Van and the fluttering/screaming passengers…
Clifford related that on a subsequent stop Emma brought out her new treasure to allow it some time to stretch its legs on the grass. As Clifford and Emma looked on the Chickadee started to run for cover. In seconds it was in the heavy undergrowth and free.

Clifford last statement was… “The best part was when Mom and Grandma freaked out! That was too funny!”

Ah summer holidays… and family times together. Just too much fun!

BTW – Clifford is telling me this part of the story as his family dropped him off with Grandma and Grandpa Lincoln for a three days rest. They are heading on their White Water Rafting Trip… and because of a broken collar bone in last week’s rugby game… he is playing Wii with grandpa this week while the rest of them get wet.

Ah summer holidays… I now a have a fishing partners these few days! Just way too much fun!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com