I have a passion for birdwatching ,I especially love the cardinal. My love for this bird grew from just watching them, how they pair up and how they seem to take care of each other especially the male being so attentive to his mate. This became a fact ,back when my mom and dad lived in New Jersey they,had noticed a male cardinal outside their back kitchen door. They would toss out a few bread crumbs and he would happily take them and fly up into the tree where his pretty little mate was waiting. This became a ritual of sorts,for every day,when they opened their door he would greet them,take some crumbs and again fly up into their nest. He would even fly to the bathroom window which was directly above the kitchen backdoor,on the second story, and fly up against the window to get the attention of whoever was in the bathroom at the time.They then would go downstairs to the kitchen door and there hed be waiting for his crumbs . Now.Fast forward ten,fifteen,twenty -five years,my mom and dad naturally, were always drawn to the cardinals,they were so special to them,as they would always reminisce about the pair of cardinals that they had befriended. It wasnt long and I also became fascinated with this beautiful bird. Well, one day my mom and I were having a heart to heart talk about life and then to how my mom said if she could come back as something,it would be a cardinal,she loved them that much,and that way when any of us saw a cardinal or a pair of cardinals we would think of her and dad. Well,the day came when my beloved mother passed away and then nine months later my beloved father went too. He couldnt manage without his sweetheart,so he slowly gave up and wouldnt eat,he had alzheimers and it eventually took his poor mind completely,add that to a broken heart,and he just slipped away.They had met when he was fresh out of the Navy and wouldve been married sixty years. They started their family very young and they had nine children. They were wonderful parents,we loved them very much and they loved us,so when they left this earth for Heaven it was very sad. Having lost my beloved parents so close together,I became very depressed. Every night I would pray to God to help me get through this trying time. I had a family,too.that needed me and they were very supportive but still,I couldnt seem to snap out of it. One morning as I meandered through the house,poured my coffee and sat down at my back door, I looked out and their in my weeping crab apple tree were about twenty cardinals all in pairs,just ruffling and flying among the branches eating out of the feeder and just all a buzz with activity. It lifted my spirits,as I thought of what mom had told me about coming back as a cardinal. ,well,their they were! My mom and dad and all of their friends! I know this sounds silly but this is how I looked at it. It made me feel so good inside and helped me . I couldnt help but think it was a sign from my parents and God to look at the bright side of things. I still have the cardinals gathering at the tree and every morning and evening I watch the birds ,all of them ,but there is a special place in my heart and soul for the cardinals. Some people believe that a miracle has to be a tremendous happening,but to me a miracle can be soft and subtle and with wings,like those of an angel. It can be a couple of cardinals in a weeping crab apple tree, singing their happy song and taking care of each other,just like my mom and dad did. Andrea L. Riggins .. .. .. ..
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 14:42:12 +0000