Pelicans

The western side of the Chesapeake Bay is a few minutes from my office, and a drive along it's shores is the perfect way to unwind from a crappy day.  There's always something to see, a breeze to feel and the specific aroma of the bay.  Today didn't disappoint.

 Driving along the familiar stretch of pavement, I approached the pier that juts off-shore some 50 to 75 feet.  Designed for fisherman, the portion from shore ends and goes both north and south.  It's common for gulls and terns to be perched there, and they are not often bother by human visitors. There are seldom people fishing here. Among the few usual birds there were three large shapes, so I quickly pulled over.

Fortunately, my near skidding approach didn't cause any alarm and all the birds remained perched. This included three pelicans! They were the large shapes I saw.  It's only the second time in as long as I can remember seeing Pelicans there! In fact, it's the only place I've seen them in this area of southern Maryland.  Next it was time to see if I could pull out my camera and get set up before they bolted.




After reaching in the back seat, getting my camera and changing to a larger lens I looked up to see two remained.  By the time I got out of the truck and retrieved my tripod and set the camera upon it, there was still on left!  I can't explain why by he (she?) gave a big stretch of his head extending the big floppy skin below its bill, it's called the gular pouch and holds fish that it catches before swallowing them whole.

zoomed in to see his gular pouch

Then a gull flying around decided to land next to him which caused the terns to take flight.  The chaos was enough for the Pelican and he flew down to the calmer water below.  Since he was still close I walked up the pier to watch a little longer.

 The second Pelican was nearby, and finally the third made his presence know. It was some distance away, flying low when it suddenly dove into the bay, but came up empty.  It took off in a rather awkward mix of flapping and running on the water and tried a second time.  It came up empty yet again.  At this point it continuing flying down the shoreline till I lost track of him.

The different positions of the wings while in flight give a different feel to the scene. While in the upward extension it looks slightly move graceful. Below the sharp bend in the wing while moving back up makes me think he's in attack mode.

Zoomed in above, pretty clearly a Brown Pelican, which I read is still an endangered species though it may be improving.

Parting shot on his way down the beach, I like that you can barely pick up his shadow in the water.



The short time I spent watching and photographing really helped my mood.  I hope you get a sense of the scene that unfolded, and that you too take a minute to see the beauty around us.

Blessings,

Brian F>

Rued Change?

Solomons UMC welcomed a new pastor today.  Pastor Dottie shared her story of change from an accomplished marine biologist working at the Smithsonian to becoming a reverend.. and wife too for that matter.  As she nears her 10 year anniversary, she begins her first assignment as a full elder in the United Methodist Church. Change it seems can come in an instant – in the time it takes to say “yes” to a new idea.  In Dottie’s case that meant saying “yes” to seminary.  Change can take time as well, as in the 10 years to see that initial response come to fruition in front of her first congregation.

Change must be the theme today.  Deb and I watched two movies on this cloudy afternoon. The first, Larry Crowne, starred Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in an offbeat romantic comedy. Tom is cut from his job in a down-sizing maneuver and forced to reconsider life. He goes to college for the first time ever as a middle aged man where he meets a college English professor who is going through her own turmoil. A change in job status, with accompanying loss of income for him.  A change in marital status leaving her wondering what’s next. Change in this movie is shown to be both forced on us, and led by us as well.

The next movie The Little Game about a young gifted student learns about life and chess from a quirky instructor. In order to send their little girl to a private school with better opportunities the parents struggle with finaces. The mother has to work more shifts and isn’t around. Her grandmother dies and she’s left questioning how much time is left on this earth and where she’ll be in 4 billion years. Change in schools and in friends leaves her searching for some constancy.   What is here today is not guaranteed to be here tomorrow, and she learns this from those around her, those loving her.

Time stands still for no one as the adage goes. As the sands of the hour glass drop one by one, nearly imperceptibly, the seconds add up and the years fade at rates that seem faster than possible.  Christopher is now married, the house a bit emptier and slightly quieter yet definitively more empty. Time passes. Change is inevitable.

The message this morning and the movies this afternoon remind us that we need to be deliberate about living life and not letting life move on with us as mere passengers. More than that, the films and sermon bring to the forefront the need to live with love and grace.  Families, friends, loves, community, these are the reasons life is worth living whether in prosperity or struggle, it is love that carries us and up lifts.

Thinking about all of this, pondering my own position on this chess board called life, I’m grateful for so many things. My family both near and far, friends and acquaintances that emanate life and love. The local southern Maryland summer swim league is an amazing collection of families. So much support for each other, and so many smiles. Additionally, a party yesterday for a beautiful 15 year old we know was full of fun, friends and food.  There were games, music and dancing (well by at least a good number of the bunch.) And Christopher and Laurens wedding last weekend was a blast. Again, fun, family, food, conversation, love, music, dancing.  I’ll add art as well, for all of these events showcase the beauty of this world if we just slow down enough to see it.

I was just about to edit this essay and ready it for posting when I saw a video that Deborah shared on her FaceBook page. The change theme continues, maybe tangentially. This video dares us to live into the dreams inside us. In our limited time here on this uni-verse, will we influence our own changes such that we live to the end of our days and be able to say we have no regrets. Did we dare to live passionately, did we have the passion to dare to live – really live?  Or will we rue our decisions in our last breath. Take the time to watch the  video

Change happens with us, without us, despite us, and sometimes it feels like it in spite of us. Some feels good, some feels bad. As I stare out the window to the grey skies, I hope to remember to slow down, take a breath, create some art, listen to some music, enjoy a relaxed paced meal with friends and good conversation. I pray to embrace the change, welcome new adventure and do my best to love well.