Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Noel Laflin

6-20-22

Amazon didn't deliver the immature hummingbird to our door - a construction worker who nearly stepped on her in the street did that.

We were not sure what caused this little lady and a sibling to be stranded there, so we placed them close by to where the fellow had first found them, out of danger of being run over, and waited for their mother to find and feed them. That's what normally works and is the recommended strategy for any young bird in a similar situation. I have witnessed this with both hummingbirds and finches firsthand.

We waited, and waited for the mother, switching up locations, back and forth across the street, thinking that might lure her in with the pitiful peeping going on. Many mature hummingbirds darted by, but none paid the pair any mind.

Hours passed, so I kept the two hydrated with sugar water, but the mother never came.

A neighborhood cat did lurk nearby, licking her chops, which made me wonder if she was the culprit that may have found the nest, causing the kids to fall and maybe doing in the mother. It was all speculation on my part, but I couldn't think of a better explanation at the time.

The other sibling could fly short distances, including up onto the roof of a neighbor's house, and eventually that was the last we saw of her. She was also pretty young and in need of more feeding, but disappeared as evening drew near. This one was younger and not capable of flight.

As it was late on the day and no rescue site was available, we punted.

I upgraded a plastic syringe for an eyedropper and began crushing mealworms to add to the sugar water, as protein was desperately needed.

With the help of Amazon's overnight delivery, we were soon adding more protein (in the form of crushed up small whole canned grasshoppers) to the sugar water base. A bee was added to the mush the next day. Grinding up bugs is so much fun. Feeding her every half hour is also a challenge - but a gratifying one at that. Thank goodness they sleep (torpor) when the sun goes down.

An eyedropper by which to feed her was eventually replaced by a small hummingbird feeder (overnight delivery to the rescue once again) and the kid began to thrive. It was not a short process and there were moments that I despaired for her survival.

But, she lived, and grew stronger, which was the goal in order for her to take flight and make her way back into hummingbird land. David suggested we name the critter Lucy, as in Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. As the sky is what we three were shooting for, I fully endorsed the name, and that is how we will always remember her.

Two weeks later we last saw the scraggly kid flying about the garden, seeking ever higher trees and further distances. Another mature female hummingbird didn't like her in her territory and eventually drove her off, just like their own mothers do at a certain point when they figure they can make it on their own. We last spotted the kid heading due east.

Life is a jungle out there. But sometimes you just have to bulk up, rest up, then take a leap, spread your wings, and hope for the best.

And there is a certain small diamond in the sky that my eye will always be seeking.

Not Letting Go

Not Letting Go

Noel Laflin

6-15-22

Following the graduation ceremony our family went out for Chinese food (my request) and afterwards I slept at my brother's apartment for a few hours before we hit the road for Yosemite.

Two nights later my brother saved my life by risking his own to pull me out of a near-death experience at Waterwheel Falls, into which I had fallen late at night.

There's not much that I remember about the graduation ceremony itself two days earlier, but having a brother's hand reach out to me in the most timely of fashion a mere forty-eight hours later, and not letting go, will never be forgotten.

It was, in retrospect, the finest graduation gift of all.

"Love First, Teach Second"

 

“Love First, Teach Second”

Noel Laflin

6-5-22

Last night was the perfect evening for a garden party – and the party was a perfect tribute for a beloved high school teacher’s retirement.

More than a hundred folks showed up, young and old alike.  Many had been her students throughout her thirty-four year career of teaching English and Literature. Some dated back to her first classroom, while others only graduated days ago.  And then there were all of those who spanned the years in between.

Fellow teachers, administrators, neighbors, friends, and family also came to pay their respects and to wish her well in retirement, where she will now have the time to read the books not necessarily on a district’s curriculum, but ones that she has been putting off getting to for way too long.    

There were some fine speeches.  One of my favorites was delivered by her son, who described what it was like to be a student in his own mother’s English classroom during his last semester in high school. Ben led off by quoting Dickens, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …” And with those opening words, there was tremendous laughter. It was the perfect introduction to an impassioned, heartfelt tribute to the woman as teacher, mentor and mother. As I was standing by the boy’s father, I asked Michael if he knew what his son had prepared to say. He did not. But he beamed with joy.

A common theme touched upon by every speaker was Marjie’s mantra throughout her career, “Love first, teach second.” 

The reciprocated love showered upon her last evening was proof that this is not necessarily a bad way of going about one’s job – but perhaps the best.