Two Gifts

Among the many gifts that have come my way this holiday season, two stand out as most special. One was the holiday party I attended with my knitting group. I drove up to a scene through the windows that was Dickens-like in its traditional appearance. Women were placing food on the dining table, others were working in the kitchen and still others were visiting in the main living area. All the rooms were aglow with Christmas lights and happy smiles. Inside, the smell of homemade soup, the fresh green of the tree, the dogs' homemade stockings hanging jauntily on the mantel, the row of brightly wrapped gifts and the steady hum of the voices made for a welcoming scene. Then the carefully prepared meal of three different soups and salads along with homemade bread and the traditional cake from the Market of Choice made up our special dinner. Then the gifts. And then a group song led by our truly gifted singers Betsey, April and Mary Lou blended the happiness of each of us into a combined holiday glow that kept me warm all the way home.

Special gift number two came out of the dense fog of yesterday when my sister and I spotted one of the snowy owls that have migrated from the Arctic to spend time here in Oregon. We didn't really think we'd see it, but only ten seconds out of the car Bobbie was motioning me to join her since she'd seen the owl resting on an electrical box in a huge field between I-5 and the Albany Mennonite Village. No hiking, hunting, traipsing or searching was needed. Just up a little knoll in front of the car and we had a front row seat at the showing of this magnificent creature who'd come from so far away. We stood and watched until the cold drove us back to the warm car. We got a good long look through our own binoculars and through a scope that some other birders were kind enough to share with us. The white was so white on that bird and it was so carefully contrasted to the dark bars of edgings on the tips of its feathers. The owl was composed, regal and self-assured occasionally turning its head to look directly at us. His feathers were all ruffled out to preserve body warmth and we felt full of triumphant owlness as we made our way back to the car. What a gift.