Bird by Bird by Bird
(plus chipmunks)
We’ll get these out of the way first…
CHIPMUNKS!!!!
If you have read even 1% of my 95 E-Musings posts to date, you’ve probably gathered that I am not the bravest of souls. For example, I am deathly afraid of mice. However, I also find the adorable chipmunk, its close cousin, no cause for alarm. This is because Walt Disney soothed my anxiety about these little guys decades ago. Turns out they can talk veryveryfast! And play cute pranks! And write music! Watch…
Now then…
BIRDS !!!!!!
My Nana ensured that I would forever be terrified of the “filthy dirty” New York City pigeons (this is the grandmother who insisted we girls wear pure white gloves on our outings to Schrafft’s restaurant and Best’s department store. Talk about your losing battle!) And then, when I was a wee bit older, there was the delightful Hitchcock tribute to The Birds…which cemented my fear of feathered flocks…
ARTICLE: IF YOU THINK YOU CAN HOLD A GRUDGE, CONSIDER THE CROW
In the real world, I was astounded to read about the grudges crows apparently hold against particular people—for DECADES. Read this fascinating NY Times piece and for Heaven’s sake..be careful not to alienate any crows out there!
Of course, “crowing” can also be a positive thing. Just ask Peter Pan!
SONG: I‘VE GOTTA CROW by Carolyn Leigh and Moose Charlap
MY THOUGHTS ON UNEXPECTED PARAKEETS
Thirty years ago in Rehoboth Beach, DE (where I spend my summers) there was a charming invasion—of monk parakeets. Theories about their arrival abound—they were escaped pets; a crate carrying them from South America accidentally opened at JFK airport; they heard tell about Thrasher’s french fries (that last one is my theory). They build very large, very messy communal nests, housing maybe 20 birds, out of sticks, and perched on top of trees (so messy that it is jarring to connect these pretty and graceful little green birdies with them. But then I think of beautifully put-together college students who live together in unkempt dorms, so I guess it makes sense! The Rehoboth Boardwalk-er can spy them (the birds) to this day at the south end, near Silver Lake. To spy the college students, I guess you’d need to head down to the bars in nearby Dewey Beach:-)
“BIRD” BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
I love these very diverse “bird” books, none of which are actually about ornithology!
THE SPARROW-I’m not normally a sci-fi buff, but I make exceptions for Mary Doria Russell’s works. In The Sparrow, an intrepid Jesuit priest/linguist leads a mission to make contact with extraterrestrial beings. What he encounters, almost destroys him. I loved this book, which dares to wrestle with foundational questions about scientific exploration and faith. Will we humans ever be really ready to encounter alien life?
BIRD BY BIRD Anne Lamott, a prolific and wonderful essayist, penned this terrific writer’s manual. Her young brother was stymied by a difficult school assignment about birds. Their father’s advice, ‘Just take it bird by bird, buddy,” applies to all writers—and projects of every kind. Lamott shares thoughts on index cards (yes!), writer’s groups (join one!), shitty first drafts (write one!) and much more. Irreverent and wise, this is one of the craft books I most recommend to budding authors.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD One of my top five favorite books ever (and I know I have company), the exquisitely written story of Scout, Jem, Dill, Atticus, and Boo Radley is by turns funny, sad, sweet and sinister. Atticus Finch, a principled lawyer and amazing father, raises his children alone in the segregated South, as he defends a black man accused of a crime he didn’t commit. I read this first at age 10, and still read it every few years, for some comfort, perspective and moral grounding. Btw: it’s also one of the precious few books that were made into equally treasured movies.
CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY This a middle-grade novel (and in fact Rose and I read it together at our long ago—and much missed—Mother-Daughter Book Club.) but it has a timeless message for everyone. A spunky young girl living in the Middle Ages is determined NOT be be married off to a succession of unsuitable suitors. Her bold, independent spirit (circa 1290 AD) is an inspiration to girls—and parents—of today.
I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS If you haven’t read this, the first volume of Maya Angelou’s powerful autobiography, I encourage you to do so. She endured a truly horrific childhood, finally found her voice, and became one of our most beloved authors.
BIRDY is a strange and beautiful novel by William Wharton, about two South Philly lifelong buddies, one of whom is obsessed with the idea of flying like a bird. Part fantasy, part reality, the book asks the questions: in this crazy world, who’s to say what crazy really is? And wouldn’t it be awesome to fly?
Every time my kids pulled this gem off the bookshelf, I rejoiced. Like Arnold Lobel’s other short masterworks for children and their grownups, Owl at Home is delightful. Owl battles the strange lumps in his bed, that turn out to be his feet. Owl makes “tear water tea” by crying into a teapot over sadnesses great and small. Owl welcomes winter into his house—and is rather sorry he did. Well worth reading cuddled up with a special child in your life!
Poet Mary Oliver loves, and writes about, nature like none other.
POEM: WHAT GORGEOUS THING by Mary Oliver
I do not know what gorgeous thing
the bluebird keeps saying,
his voice easing out of his throat,
beak, body into the pink air
of the early morning. I like it
whatever it is. Sometimes
it seems the only thing in the world
that is without dark thoughts.
Sometimes it seems the only thing
in the world that is without
questions that can’t and probably
never will be answered, the
only thing that is entirely content
with the pink, then clear white
morning and, gratefully, says so.
ROBINS I HAVE KNOWN!
I have two dear friends named Robin, both women (Robin is one of those awesome names that are used by both males and females). My friend Robin Griffin and I have been buddies since our kids were very small. My author friend Robin Lentz Worgan writes beautifully about her life, including the grief process after the loss of her daughter Margaret.
Here’s one of Robin’s pieces in Next Avenue, a lovely reflection on her son Martin, and the author Gary Paulsen.
BLOG PREVIEW: CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR
This week I write about familects and family compounds and the origin of a catchphrase involving stogies! C’mon over to Working Title!
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
I spend waaaay too much time trying to come up with definitive answers to life’s confounding puzzles. This week, I’ve decided to take Maya Angelou’s quote to heart—to stop puzzling so much, and start singing instead. I invite you to join the choir, my friends!
Love the humor you use to get this newsletter going and as always all the wisdom and experiences you offer in each of them. I will never forget watching the movie "The Birds" with my aunt and uncle at a very young age. Frightening. Thanks also for reminding me I have wanted to re-read I know Why a Cage Bird Sings and Bird by Bird. And, for some new titles to try like Birdy. Also, Elise, very kind of you to mention me and my writing. I feel akin to Robin birds whenever I see them outside:) And also Christopher Robin because I love those stories.:)