Andy’s been hearing and seeing the cardinals around the backyard the past couple of weeks, but I have been missing them. The other day, however, I was sitting at the dining room table working when a small spot of red appeared in my peripheral vision, and I found this cardinal sitting in the dogwood tree outside our front window. It stayed there, perched quietly on its branch, looking around and surveying the surround area. There was a strong wind that day, but it stayed stoically there, its feathers slightly ruffled in the moving air, but otherwise entirely unbothered.
It was such a happy scene, and I immediately thought of Dad, who hasn’t been on my mind as much lately, but whose presence seems to be returning for the run-up to the holidays. Maybe he’s sensing my disconnect from family, and this is his way of saying he’s still here. Watching the cardinal, I feel a sense of peace in this discontented world. The cardinal turns and looks at me for a moment, then is gone.
