Indelible

On Monday, we went to the zoo with Dad and Maria. My favourite part is the aviary. You walk into this big, humid dome that is filled with tropical plants and all sorts of birds. What I enjoy so much is that there is a path thru for the humans, but the birds are not separated. So, you'll see exotic ducks crossing the path in front of you or a scarlet ibis plunking down on a nearby branch.

One of the birds that really impressed Dad was a little kingfisher with bright, iridescent turquoise on his wings. He was a very small guy, but really wowed us when in flight. It's probably something for mating, but being so small and bright seems like it would make him a good target for someone else's dinner - what do I know?

Anyhow, I was thinking about this while knitting away this morning. One of the wonderful things about my father are his enthusiasms. No one who has ever seen his projects would say he was detail-oriented. However, he has a keen eye for anomalies or little beauties in nature. He's always giving me interesting rocks or branches.

One time when I was in third or fourth grade, Dad gave me a baggie with a dead kestrel he found in the road. Gross right? Of course, it had beautiful patterns and was the best chance ever to see such a creature so close. My science teacher was quite enthused (although I seem to recall that he said he'd dispose of the little corpse - guess he figured I was unpopular enough without having to tote around a dead bird for the remainder of the day).

There are a lot of these stories. I was really lucky to grow up with parents who were available and interested. They've taught me crap-all about office politics, but I look for beauty and inconsistencies wherever I go. It is something to treasure.