A Delayed This and That

Living with animals can be a wonderful experience, especially if we choose to learn the valuable lessons animals teach through their natural enthusiasm, grace, resourcefulness, affection and forgiveness.

— Richard H. Pitcairn

It was a few years back, maybe 22 years ago, that I was watching television one eve with my boys, and a little mouse ran out and began running in circles in the middle of the floor.  Now, we'd been trying to catch this little creature for a good long while, but he always managed to evade our trappings, and here he was, putting on a little show for me.  It seemed like he was saying, "Catch me if you can." 

It was in the middle of that night that I was awoken about 3 am in the morning by a rumbling sound.  My immediate thought was that the boiler was about to blow, but as the eerie sound and rumbling continued, I realized that it was an earthquake.  Later I found out that it had taken place in Long Island. Our little visitor had sensed it coming. 

The very idea of a bird is a symbol and a suggestion to the poet. A bird seems to be at the top of the scale, so vehement and intense his life. . . . The beautiful vagabonds, endowed with every grace, masters of all climes, and knowing no bounds — how many human aspirations are realised in their free, holiday-lives — and how many suggestions to the poet in their flight and song!

-- John Burroughs  --

Fast forward to Monday morning, the day the storm was set to hit.  The birds were unusually noisy that morning, especially the seagulls, already a noisy lot, who seemed to be announcing impending doom as they flew back onto the mainland in large flocks. Our ancestors knew enough to pay attention. In folklore of various cultures, birds have played many roles, from predicting the weather to predicting whom a girl is going to marry.

We all have our 'good old days' tucked away inside our hearts, and we return to them in daydreams like cats to favorite armchairs.

— Brian Carter

Can animals really sense incoming storms before they happen?  I believe they can.  I believe that most animals can sense variations in the weather and change their habits accordingly. What about you?  Do you have any animal stories you'd like to share?

It's been quite a nightmarish two days transportation wise.  It makes me question, "Do I really want to continue doing this?" Oh, I know that one day, soon, I hope, my train will be running again, but it really has been difficult, even for the younger people I work with.  And yesterday was so cold.  It seems the cold hit us all at once, and none of us are ready for it.  I left my house at 6:45 am and waited until 8:14 for a bus to take me to a train. By then, I was like an ice cube.    I'd not found my gloves, and my winter coats are still in the cleaners. (Like I said, I wasn't prepared.  It usually doesn't get so cold, so soon.) And, I just started to warm up on the bus when we reached my stop, and I got off to enter an air conditioned train.  I kid you not, that cold chill stayed with me all day.

Now, don't get me wrong about what I have to say.  I give these transit workers kudos for their Herculean efforts to get the subways back on track.  I never believed that most of them would be up and running so quickly, but what I cannot understand is why they have not provided shuttle buses for those of us whose service have not yet been restored. They do this when they are working on the tracks.  Yet here we are, thousands of people, struggling to get back and forth to work on some of the slowest buses in Brooklyn...and that is a known fact.  

And now, today, another storm coming.  Some are saying a slushy inch, other predictions say about 4 inches.  Only time will tell.  I did make arrangements yesterday to put my late days on hold until my train is running because I don't want to be running around at night looking for a way home. My boss understood my predicament and agreed to let me work early days until things are back in order.

Ah, but one day this will be a mere memory.  We'll be talking about the 'remember when's' just as we do when we had the blackout or the transit strike. For now, though, all I can do is rely on the serenity prayer.  

Thanks for letting me share.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference

Living one day at a time; 

Enjoying one moment at a time; 

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; 

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it; 

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life 

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.