For the Birds

For the Birds

We drove slowly through the cemetery, the first car just behind the hearse. An occasional snowflake found its way across the windshield on this sunny Saturday afternoon. The rain from the night before washed the air clean, and the cold would be bearable for a short time. We were there to say goodbye to our dad, Malvin Lee Miller, American.

The Great Malvini, as he had come to be known in some circles, had quietly slipped away in his sleep. Till the very end he was determined to do things in his own way and in his own time. His soul stayed around long enough for his children to arrive and hold his still warm hand. Although his death was without fanfare, The Great Malvini made sure that the rest of us were aware that this was the passing of an era.

Like everyone else in my universe, I am asleep at 1 a.m. Not so on that fateful Thursday morning. Something woke Lucy, my English springer spaniel, who in turn woke me. As I tiptoed down the stairs and Lucy ran on her quiet, little doggy feet, Shelley, my sister-in-law, heard us and decided to let her dog join Lucy in the great varmint hunt outside. Ted, my brother, was awakened and out of bed before the telephone rang. The lady from the assisted living facility was calling to tell us that Daddy was “unresponsive.” Ted and I quickly dressed and drove the short distance to HarborChase.

As many nights as I have spent at Ted and Shelley’s house, I can truthfully say that the three of us have never been up at the same time at that hour of the morning. But then again, it wasn’t our passing that was taking place. The Great Malvini had decided that the time was right and he was in a hurry.

By afternoon everyone at HarborChase knew that Mr. Miller, the man who always dressed in a coat and tie for meals, had died. Mrs. Thrasher, the little lady who sat on his left at the dining table, took to her bed for the remainder of the day. Another lady gathered up the uneaten toast and fed the birds, something my dad had done every day for years.

Now the church service was over, and we were meandering through the narrow streets at Maple Hill Cemetery. As we drove along, we were surprised to see that hundreds of robins had joined the procession. They were sitting on the tombstones, on tree limbs, on the ground and in the road. There wasn’t another bird in sight….only robins. And they had no intention of remaining quiet.

During the ceremony, Tim leaned over and whispered, “Listen to the birds!” Indeed, they were all chirping at once. From inside the tent, we couldn’t see the robins but we could certainly hear them. As soon as the service was over, the chirping stopped and the robins disappeared.

So how do I interpret these two incidences? In one, an entire household was awake in the middle of the night and seemingly ready for a summons. The other involved hundreds of robins on a mission.

Often I discount the miracle and mystery of God in my life by ignoring the extraordinary. Cynicism creeps in and helps me rationalize perfectly reasonable explanations for nearly every event. Seeing the wonder and magnificence in day to day occurrences requires vigilance—more effort than I am willing to give on most days. This time there could be no cynicism, no rationalization. This time God did not use his still, small voice. This time He roared!

An Axe Murderess

An Axe Murderess

Censorship has never held much appeal for me. I don’t have to go to the movies or listen to Howard Stern. I buy books and magazines that I want to read and ignore the rest. I try to be a good sport when I am visiting various and sundry relatives and watch whatever drivel they choose. That is how I came to know about My Name is Earl and his dealings with karma.
      Earl is convinced that his current lot is life is a direct result of all the bad things he did in the past. He is seeking forgiveness and redemption in order to improve his future prospects. He made a list of all his wrongdoings and each week tries to make things right. I think Earl is on to something.
     I have been wondering how in the name of all that is reasonable I got myself in such a mess. How did I manage to arrive at this late date in life and end up on a street in the middle of nowhere bored senseless? The only plausible explanation is that I must have been an axe murderess in a former life.
     Even the Bible recognizes the principle of karma. “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.” (I grew up believing that Jesus and the Disciples spoke that way.) I have sown some really bad stuff and am reaping the rewards.
     Reviewing my present life would lead one to believe that I haven’t done anything terribly awful. I have never even gotten a speeding ticket although I am sure that have earned a few. I am sitting squarely at the confluence of karma and reincarnation, and it is not a pretty sight.

Life Lists Responses

Life Lists Responses

From what little I understand about “life lists,” they seem to be a to-do list of sorts. Things I hope to do, be, accomplish, learn, see, or experience. They need not be lofty or foolish, but they can be. They need not be serious or impossible, but they can be. They need not be spiritual or hedonistic, but they can be. Probably, an assortment is best, because life more closely resembles a Whitman’s Sampler than a box of Raisinettes.
Recently I asked my friends and accomplices about their life lists. The responses were every bit a varied as the writers. I promised a full accounting, withholding names to protect the innocent. I also decided to chronicle the responses in two parts. First, I didn’t want this musing to be so long that readers took one look and hit delete. Second, I wanted to give those who meant to reply and haven’t gotten around to it a chance to do so before I finished with the subject. I will save my list for last.
Most of the people who responded had reached middle age without the aid of a list of any kind and a few thought writing one at this point would be futile. Jean, my friend here in Monroe, wrote 1. “Be sure to make no list!” and God bless America. I don’t know if there is some connection or if I mistook her closing for item number 2.
Madeline, another friend from here, figures that “if you haven’t accomplished IT by now, you probably won’t. So forget the lists, pour yourself a good stiff drink and enjoy the time you have left. AMEN.”  
Several friends acknowledged the question but put me off until later. Dannye, who obviously reads classier stuff than I, hopes to get back to me before she “shuffles off this mortal coil.” I realized at that point that things were getting out of hand. She did confess, however, that she had “stumbled through life without even a plan much less goals.”
Judy admitted that she was “still contemplating my course for my life choices so I will have to get back to you later on that one!!! (Seems that I make them up daily as I go along!) At any rate, my life choice currently is to get the Alaskan cruise put together and I think that I am getting very close to getting it done!” Judy is a woman with priorities.
Marianna said that she was “starting back to work on Tuesday.” I have no idea.
Like me, Gwen read about “life lists” and wondered if she should come up with something meaningful. Her daughter’s in-laws are going to Ethiopia but that is apparently a little too meaningful for Gwen. She plans to stick to reading and traveling to places that require fewer shots.  She did admit that my inability to create an exciting list had struck home with her.
My favorite son-in-law finds that his list has been shortened. “I look at my wife and my son and realize that at the top of my personal life list is to be the best husband and the greatest father that I can possibly be. It is funny how being blessed with a child will change your goals.  At one time playing in even one Major League baseball game was a goal of mine.  Now the thought of a game of catch with my little boy in the back yard excites me even more.” I think I will keep him.
Life Lists, Part 2, will be along shortly. I would very much like to hear from those of you who have been desperately trying to think of something inspired since I first mentioned the subject. You won’t be disappointed with the second installment.
Until then.