Yesterday I was unpacking some of the boxes filled with treasures that my grandmother left me. It was a bittersweet reckoning of a lifetime of memories to sort through.
I was in the living room when I began to hear a clatter coming from inside the woodstove. Looking through the glass door of the stove, I saw a small bird struggling to get out. I have no idea how a bird that large was able to fly down the chimney and into the stove, but stranger things have happened.
Watching the bird struggling to break free, yet trapped by imaginary walls, my roommate Paul and I came up with a plan to rescue the frightened bird. I opened the front door to the house while he slowly opened the glass door of the stove. Capturing the fluttering and frantic winged creature, Paul cupped the small bird in his hands.
Unfortunately the bird escaped his grasp and began flying into the windows, the ceiling and other assorted objects. Finally coming to rest perched on a house plant, Paul recaptured the bird and we released it outside.
Within seconds the bird vanished, disappearing into the bright sky.
I guess this is the best example I can think of that illustrates that sometimes it takes a friend or loved one to help us get beyond the invisible barriers that threaten to hold us back, trap us, or keep us from realizing our greatest potential.
As I unpacked yesterday's memories, more than a few instances came to mind of times when my grandparents rushed to my rescue and saved me from various self created disasters. More than anything, I hope that my rush toward the freedom of second chances will be as inspirational to them- and I believe they are still watching out for me, as yesterday's moment of grace was to me. I know that wherever they are, they took as much joy in that small bird's flight as I did.
~For you web surfers...read all about the controversy brewing in our backyard....
This might be a local issue but...in ithat it involves the behavior of one of the World's largest corporations, it affects everyone. Here's more on the fallout over Microsoft pulling their support for a Washington State Bill banning discrimination against gays. The bill lost by one vote in the state senate after receiving overwhelming support from the state house and the governor's office.
http://www.thestranger.com/2005-04-28/city1.html
NYTimes coverage ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/27/national/27microsoft.html
More indepth coverage from the blog o sphere....
http://www.americablog.org/
A history of these types of skirmishes...
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=523
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