Hummingbirds
While living in Creston one morning Patrick and I were sitting outside on our back step. As we were talking we had a close encounter with a hummingbird. This little guy seemed to appear out of nowhere, and with precise movement came directly in front of my face, within inches of my nose, hovering there for a minute or so. For me this is such a joyful experience to see a hummingbird this close. They are a tiny bundle of energy and colour representing happiness for me.
When we lived in rural British Columbia, we had the opportunity to experience this tiny bird up close and personal. Patrick and I had just arrived home from our shopping trip to Nelson and the children had just arrived home from school. It was a beautiful spring day and I decided to sit outside on the deck with a coffee before making supper. I tucked my legs under me with my feet sticking out and was sitting there quietly, enjoying the moment when quite suddenly a hummingbird landed on my foot.
I was so excited but knew if I moved or made a sound the bird would leave. This was a dilemma because I really wanted the family to see this. I enjoyed watching him on my own for a few minutes, but in the end I could not contain my excitement and had to call out, which as predicted scared the bird off, but still the story had to be told.
We immediately made the organic sugar mixture (no food colouring as it damages their tiny little livers), filling the bird feeders and waiting for our little friend to return. As it happened there were many more with him, arriving fresh from their migration. We each enjoyed the experience of holding a finger at the feeder while the birds landed and took their fill of nectar. To have those tiny little feet clasping your finger with the opportunity to study their colours close-up and look into their eyes really is amazing, an experience we all enjoyed very much.
That summer we were blessed to have over twenty hummingbirds live around our home, doing their mating dance, drinking from our feeders and providing us with great entertainment. Tiffany would sometimes have to be banished to the house while the birds were around. She had studied their habits until she figured out the best place to sit, waiting for them to come within reach of her sharp claws. This was not an option, which I very clearly explained to her as I put her in the house behind the screen door.
There is so much to say about the hummingbird because they are indeed magical. I started to draw them after my surgery in 2012 due to the dream I had while on my last night in hospital. It was a dream I did not write down because I didn’t have a journal at the time, and back then I did not have a cell phone or iPad in which to make my notes.
It is one of the dreams that has stayed with me because of its incredible impact. I had been in the hospital for six days, having the operation on my birthday to remove a thirteen pound tumor. The doctor and I decided to remove both ovaries at the same time to prevent this re-occurring in the future. The doctor was so amazed at what she removed from my body. She took a photo and showed it to me a few days later. I’m not sure that was a good thing because it really was horrible, looking to me very much like an alien egg.
Patrick had seen the photo and was fascinated with its appearance. There was such a feeling of joy to have it removed, a magical lightness of being.
The Swift Current hospital was a one-and-a-half hour drive from Maple Creek, so once the surgery was over and I was out of danger I told Patrick not to take the time to visit, understanding it would make his work day pretty long. He already had a half hour drive from the park to town and so to add another three hour drive in the evening seemed silly to me. This meant I was alone for most of the days I was in the hospital and it was a very lonely time for me.
Lucas had also offered to come down from Prince Albert to visit, but I could not justify him taking the time off work and spending the money. I was fine after all and I saw no need for him to make the trip. Patrick came to see me after the surgery and then again once I was transferred to the maternity ward, bringing me some food and drawing supplies. I had otherwise nothing to do all day. I do not watch TV, could not eat the hospital food, and did not take the pain killers after the first day, so I was a bit of an anomaly to the young hospital staff on the ward where I spent the first two days.
Because they did not understand me, I think, seeing me as difficult. the first group of nurses just ignored me. My call bell for assistance to unplug the machinery so I could get to the bathroom, went unanswered something I should not have done on my own, but in the end was forced to. So the doctor transferred me to the maternity ward where I received much better care. The nurses there were wonderful, helping me to shower, bringing me fresh gowns and helping me get up, all things the nurses on the other ward hadn’t bothered to do.
I was very hungry, but the smell of the food coming down the hall was so awful I couldn’t eat a thing. I was shocked to see they still fed patients things like jello and packaged pudding. It seemed that everything on my tray came from a package, nothing fresh or nutritious. How does one get better if they eat this way? I could not wait to get home and have a huge mango pineapple smoothie made with yogurt. I believe because of all these issues, being isolated and alone was the reason I had the dream of the hummingbird.
I was near the tree where the hummingbird had its nest. I was watching as its nest was attacked and I was able to rescue the bird and then help it to rebuild. While I was rebuilding the nest, it struck me how honoured I was having the opportunity to help in this way. To hold the bird until it was once again stable was also a joy for me, as I admire them so much. It seemed like such a gift and I was deeply touched, especially after having such a difficult week.
When I awoke I felt such a strong desire to bring a hummingbird to life on paper, which I have since learning this is my way to connect to that aspect of my personality. Once I got home and was strong enough I began.
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