Thursday 8 July 2010

What is the measure of a life?

The cycle of life is one that many cannot accept. I know that in my parent's last years there was denial that they were ill. They would have another health issue, and then would feel that they'd just get over that and they would be 'fine'.

The only things that are certain are death and taxes. OK, death WITH taxes, trust me on that one! We had such complications with the executors Mom & Dad chose (not us) and they didn't want the job by the time Dad joined Mom at that cottage in the sky.

We watch the wildlife around us, and the trees. My neighbour mourned the trees that fell in the last hurricane, and feeling particularly poetic, I suggested that the old trees fall making room for the younger ones to seek the sun.

Many fish and hunt around here. It is a cycle of human life to seek food. Most of us are still meat eaters. As are our cats...
Having your peers pass over brings you to a taste of mortality, which many cannot face. I have come to terms with this, had enough Hospice clients, that I know that when the time comes I have the tools to deal with it. It is those who must mourn who do the suffering.


That said, it broke my heart that our black cat, Oliver, mortally wounded a duckling one morning. It was painful watching it as it struggled with life. We tucked it into an old cloth diaper and watched it. At least, I visited with my Hospice client, while Brian nursed it all day. How difficult this was.

When I came home, I was determined not to let it suffer anymore. I put it out of its misery.

I sat at my computer, dealing with this, when he managed to grab another duckling. It died in my hand, wrapped in an old tea towel, a 'crying towel' I won for a miserable bowling score ( <99) back in 1990-something!




We are now watching Oliver like a hawk. Unfortunately, our red-tailed hawk, who continually harasses the robins in the trees, grabbed a robin on our lawn. I was on the deck in a flash, and videotaped it.

I was so shocked. In 2 minutes the robin was gone, you can hear the other robin screaming at the hawk in the video. These robins had managed two broods this summer. I can see why. Every afternoon, said hawk flies over with a fish in its talons, too.

It is important to laud each day. Never mind the weather, as most Canadian complain about too hot, or too cold. Maybe it is a safe conversational topic...

Embrace each day. Tell someone you love them. Drive carefully, walk purposefully, make a difference in the world. Somebody out there loves you.

10 comments:

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Nature is ever our teacher.

Sobering words Jenn that we all need to absorb.

at the cottage said...

Hi Jenn. Great to read you as always. But your post :( Sometimes we are reminded that that Mother Nature can be unpleasant. I look at my pampered kitties (I love them) and know that if they got outside they would be such predators and I worry about the birds. (Can you tell I am a woman of a certain age ;) I love watching my birdies.

Quick story - friend in S Africa in a jeep in the countryside - saw a young gazelle and in the distance
1 or 2 lions. The guide said to stay quiet they could stay and watch (safely) but NOT to make a noise to warn the gazelle of the imminent danger. the reason "it's way it is"- it's nature.

Not sure of the fit, just wanted to share after reading your post.

Stay cool and I do read often though I don't always comment :)

Cheers

Deb

Peter B said...

that 'hawk' resembles a young peregrine falcon to me .. do you have them in your area?


check out this pic: http://www.janeo.com/uploaded_images/IMG_0338-752905.jpg

Jenn Jilks said...

Hard to say, Peter. This post helps, mostly, though, we have red-tailed hawks around here. I shall research further!

Jenn Jilks said...

More research, Peter, as in talking to the Ottawa bird lady, most raptors in Ontario are red-tailed hawks. Plus, "Peregrines are native to a wide variety of open habitats, including wetlands, alpine meadows, and tundra. In all cases, Peregrines choose a site which has an isolated protected spot for nesting near good hunting grounds. Most of the time this is a cliff or rocky outcrop"

THis is not the habitat type for Muskoka.

Gill - That British Woman said...

well said, it's awful to see anyone or thing suffer....

Gill

If you have time check out my blog tomorrow.......

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Very hard to just sit still and let nature take its course as with the hawk. But it is the right thing to do.

But I'm glad you're keeping an eye on the cat now -- that doesn't seem like interfering with the course of nature so much as I think the cat has a very unfair advantage there.

Life goes on.

Peter B said...

Down our way in Southern Ont, we have a pair of nesting peregrines that have been making their home in the Ambassador Bridge 'tween Windsor & Detroit. The mottling on the breast of the bird in your video seems very similar.

Here's a link to a Star article about ours down here.

Nancy Tapley said...

Jenn, we do get peregrines. We do have cliff faces in Muskoka that suit them. One of my cats caught a duckling last summer. I was so upset, and he was so proud... brought it home for me to whip up into kitty-dinner, I think. We gave it the most solemn service, and ended by placing it in the river, so it could "swim home"...
honestly, there are days i wonder about myself...

me said...

I think you can see the shoulder band that a red tailed hawk has. Whatever it is that's a great video. Thanks for visiting my osprey post