~Bird Watching with Mary~

The other night, I was enjoying the quiet evening with Mary - sitting with her in her living room, munching some Homestyle Popcorn and watching the birds flit about the bird feeders dangling from the front porch. From time to time, we commented about the various "dramas" unfolding in front of us - which birds were bullies, how each bird seemed to wait their own turn, etc.

I wish I knew Mary in her younger years - I feel I get a glimpse of how her mind must have worked when she was at her sharpest. Now, at 87, she is often quite childlike, perhaps moreso because her memory has started to fail.

Nevertheless, here's a portion of our actual conversation that nite:



mary: i wonder what time birds go to bed.

~ me: i don't know; you hear the early bird gets the worm, so mebbe they go to bed early, too?

mary: you'd think they must not be able to see too good at night. 'course, what about night owls?

~ me: they must be the exception if they've gotta have "night" in the name.

mary: the exception that proves the rule.

~ me: i s'pose so.

*pause*

mary: i wonder what time birds go to bed....



~L