CATCH UP
VAC TIME -- Received my 2nd Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination -- I had only a slightly sore arm at the injection site for just a few days. Neither of my shots caused any objectionable reactions and pain.
TRESPASSER -- I unexpectedly discovered a discarded blanket on my back patio which I reported to local authorities. This is a second, possibly third trespassing occurrence of which I have become aware and described here in the previous post. Police will accelerate their activities in our community I was told. I'm considering that some additional security may be warranted.
The 2nd egg is now being monitored for pip (first eggshell break), any day now.
Consider that scientist experts report only about 50% of these raptor baby birds usually survive in the wild as we are seeing with these Bald Eagles since I started viewing them in 2019.
Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) report: "Due to the extremely high volume, chat will be closed until further notice. We will post updated recaps of the daily events throughout the day right here".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7utMaDb1W08
SERENDIPITOUS TIMING
My recent need to contact local authorities prompted my recollection of an instance when my life might have been changed had my timing been different.
I was in the process of helping my mother to continue living independently in her residence. She had been legally blind for a number of years. She had been using large size checks so was able to continue to mostly manage her own finances. In more recent years her vision had been slightly decreasing so I was gradually assuming more responsibility. Even then I talked through with her everything I was doing, consulting her for decisions. Feeling we have control over our lives as much as possible when we get older is very important, I believe, so keeping her involved mattered for reinforcing her positive attitude, confidence and bolstering her morale.
One particular day there were some business matters to transact so rather than just handling them myself I had arranged that she go with me to the bank. I drove to her residence, sat down on her sofa and we chatted a bit. There was no hurry since neither of us had plans until much later in the day. The longer I sat the more comfortable I became and I just couldn't seem to get started. For reasons I can't further explain I persisted in just sitting there despite her beginning to become impatient with my delay, first questioning, then much more strongly urging that we get on with our bank business.
Finally, I arose, and we drove to the bank which was only five to ten minutes away. On entering, I noticed there were an unusual number of men in dark suits busily moving about in addition to the normally few tellers in this never-very-busy bank branch. I thought maybe they were having an audit of some sort from my years earlier experience working in a bank elsewhere. We were the only customers. We were quite surprised to learn there had been a hold-up not long before and these were FBI agents. Bank employees said they were relieved there were no customers in the bank at the time and no one was hurt.
After conducting our business, then leaving, Mother and I both marveled that had we gone to the bank earlier instead of my just vegetating on her sofa we would have been customers in the bank, or might even have walked in on the robbery in progress. Who knows what might have transpired, but even if nothing, I'm very glad we did not have the experience of finding out.
I've reflected on other instances in my life when serendipitous timing might have altered my life's experience or path in other ways -- for better or worse.
Do you recall any instances when unexpected timing could have made a difference in your life?
No, I cannot remember anything anywhere close to what you have shared. My life is full of serendipitous occurrences about which I blog often but, I prefer to call them synchronicity!
ReplyDeleteWhatever we call them they are interesting to think about.
DeleteWow, something was keeping you from going to the bank earlier. Whoever or whatever it was had perfect timing. Scary.
ReplyDeleteAlso scary is the blanket in your yard. You might want to consider a barking dog warning system. It goes off with motion. Of course a neighborhood cat could probably set it off. Or maybe just motion lights. Either would make a trespasser move on.
I have motion sensor lights in some areas, but much of yard, patio and one gate is well lit naturally. More will be necessary. Lots of creatures in our area that can trigger some lights.
DeleteSuch sad news about the lost eaglet. This nesting pair has had a run of misfortune.
ReplyDeleteIncredible good fortune for you and your mother that day, however! Bank robberies are volatile and frightening. My own mother, head teller at a local bank, was in two robberies, both armed and quite scary. I'm glad you both escaped that.
Can only imagine how your mother must have felt — scary. When I worked at a bank we were told one morning a robbery was expected that day based on information police had received from a prison inmate. I was in the loan department and with all the other employees with cash windows, we were especially on pins and needles all that day. Fortunately nothing happened, but we were relieved when the bank closed that day at 2:30 pm — those were the days of “banker’s hours”.
DeleteAugust 1990, we were travelling in India and due to some train delays about to miss our flight to London in two days time. So we had to spend the best part of the day and some bribe to reschedule. It still involved a 12 hour delay waiting for a plane that never arrived. We eventually boarded a nearly empty jumbo and only learned upon arrival that the plane that never arrived was BA flight 149, sitting now at Kuwait airport with the crew and passengers kidnapped by Saddam. He was apparently ready with missiles etc. to kidnap/shoot down all flights across his airspace.
ReplyDeleteOur flight was therefore across (safe) Afghanistan and Russia instead of the Gulf and we admired the massive mountain ranges of the Pamir from above.
I remember my daughter watching Pretty Woman, her very first adult movie experience.
That would have been a harrowing experience you missed having. Sounds like an interesting trip you were on. Only after the fact do we often become aware of an experience we might have had for reasons beyond our control.
DeleteAlthough I had made a yearly trip from Washington State to the S.F. Bay Area by way of I-5 and the Bay Bridge for decades, something moved me to do something different in October 1989 and to take the long way to California, driving down the Oregon Coast.
ReplyDeleteInstead of arriving on the Bay Bridge just after 5:00 p.m. as I had done many many times before, I arrived at that time in Bandon, Oregon, and was shocked to hear the news on the T.V. as I checked in at a motel. The Loma Prieta earthquake had struck at 5:04 p.m., collapsing part of the Bay Bridge.
Coincidentally, earlier this morning I noticed a Bald Eagle flying toward the cottonwood grove that I can see when I look to the northeast. It has been perched there now for several hours. In the spring after my mother died, a pair of Bald Eagles built their nest in that same grove and returned to the same nest for a number of years until it was blown down in a fierce wind storm. It wasn't that long ago this month that a pair of Bald Eagles were perched there for the good part of a day. I don't see any signs of a new nest, but there certainly is one nearby.
Thanks for stopping by and your comment. Your yearly trip down the coast experience truly was one to to seem most thought provoking — does make one wonder about the forces in our lives.
DeleteCertainly does sound like a bald eagle nest may be nearby. I don't recall having the good fortune of ever having seen bald eagles flying in the wild, or as you describe, so think you are fortunate.
That was remarkable your delaying the bank visit until such time as the raid was over and done with. You might well have been in big trouble if you'd gone a bit earlier. I can't say I've had any similar experiences. But I think of all those people who for some reason changed their flights and avoided being on a plane that crashed.
ReplyDeleteYes, i think of them, too, and wonder about such occurrences.
DeleteI wrote about such an instance way back Joared. When we narrowly avoided a bomb going off. I still get flashbacks.
ReplyDeletehttp://wisewebwoman.blogspot.com/2008/03/touched-by-explosion.html
You and your mother were very fortunate indeed.
XO
WWW
A minute or less in timing can make a difference between lifecand death as your experience demonstrates.
DeleteNote: though my blog policy prohibits links in comments I allowed this one since it went to the writers own blog post.
I believe in serendipity but no personal incidents as strong as yours. I am a big believer in listening to the inner voice in many things.
ReplyDeleteThere seem to be lots of unexplainable events — coincidence?
DeleteWhew, that is great that you missed being witness at the very least to something so horrible as a bank robbery!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that getting out of the shell could be too much for a bird! Poor thing. My mom and brother live (well, he still lives there, she passed away in 2008) in Juneau, and bald eagles are fairly common, though still very much appreciated and not taken for granted. I liked seeing them soar about, hunting for salmon or whatever. I was less impressed with them hanging out at the dumpster behind Safeway.
We were lucky to avoid the bank robbery I think, too.
DeleteI recall when I was young where we lived for a few years we had chicken and duck eggs being hatched. Their process is basically the same. I was told not to assist in the egg hatching process, that if the bird couldn’t get out of the shell on its own it probably wouldn't be strong enough to survive on its own.
I can appreciate your view of the eagles in their scavenger activities, not exactly noble.