Rocky, the Pigeon, Came for Coffee

There wasn’t anyone off-limits for a colorful conversation with the young girl whose imagination knew no bounds. While growing up, my mother referred to me as Chatty Cathy, the talking doll of the 50s and 60s. My mother would poke her head into my bedroom late at night, wondering who in the world captured my attention this time.

Vintage Chatty Cathy doll, 1961, Courtesy of Pinterest

My mother taught me to care for whatever crossed my path. She had large-scale paintings and photographs depicting all Mother Nature offered. In my mother’s eyes, every day was Earth Day.

My Late Mother’s Bev Doolittle Painting, “Sacred Circle

As a grown woman, I’ve been accused of being a softie. I cry tears of joy holding a puppy, although I never allow anyone to see. If someone’s telling their heart-breaking story, I want to put on my sunglasses, however, that’d be rude. I marvel at the crickets and frogs every evening as they perform their choir meant only for me. They sing, I’m grateful and everyone’s happy.

Last night around 7:00, I went onto my backyard to move the sprinkler around after its 30-minute section was thoroughly soaked. A pigeon began circling and finally landed a few feet away on the sidewalk. I immediately thought it peculiar to have a bird instantly feel comfortable in my presence.

The sun was no longer blasting me like a furnace, therefore, I sat down in one of my chairs to relax. The bird took no time hopping toward me. However, I noticed it was hopping on only one leg! When it was at my feet, I took a close look at its injured leg and discovered its three toes were badly mangled.

The pigeon appeared to be a Rock Pigeon, therefore, it wasn’t long before I attached a name and a gender. I asked Rocky what happened to his leg and why he decided my backyard was the place to be. With every word, Rocky’s head tilted sideways. Was he truly curious and interested in what I was saying, or did he think I was off my rocker?

I brought some granola out for Rocky and set it on the ground. He had a bite to eat and jumped onto the chair next to me. I told him to stay at my home as long as he needed and wanted. I wondered whether he had a family worried sick because he was away from them. I talked into the evening and he eventually grew weary.

Rocky crouched down into a ball of feathers and his tiny dark eyelids began fluttering. Although he didn’t want to miss a word I relayed, he couldn’t hold his eyes open any longer. Rocky tucked his head down low and his long beak became invisible in his neck feathers. I bid Rocky good-night and sweet dreams.

I crawled into bed and wondered about my new friend. Would he be safe during the night with only one working leg? What if a band of raccoon decided Rocky would be their feast? I tossed and turned with concern for Rocky’s well-being. I finally dozed off and was shaken out of a sound sleep by a nightmare.

Photo Courtesy of LA Weekly

During my horrific dream, a white cobra was on the back porch railing with his ugly head reared near Rocky. I jumped out of bed and charged at the cobra and ordered him to stay away from my pigeon. I awoke with my heart pounding and opened the sliding door to check on Rocky. He was sound asleep in the red chair exactly as I left him.

The following morning, I awoke at 6:15 and peeked out of my sliding door to check on Rocky. Would he still be there? Would there be merely a pile of lifeless feathers? To my astonishment, Rocky was sitting up in the chair with his eyes wide open. I was thrilled he decided to stay and was fit as a fiddle. I told Rocky I’d be back in 10 minutes and we’d visit some more. I was excited to have kind-hearted company!

I raced back inside to make a cup of coffee, grab a blanket, put on a sweater and a pair of fuzzy slippers. As promised, I went back outside to join Rocky, however, when I walked toward our favorite red chairs, I was saddened to see Rocky’s chair empty. Perhaps due to his injury, he desperately needed a safe haven for the night. I didn’t mind being a fly-by for him.

I’ve been a Chatty Cathy since my years as a tiny tot. My mother used to say I could sell ice cubes to Eskimos. Even though my imagination runs wild with friends from the Great Beyond, I’ll always remember Rocky, the pigeon, who came for coffee.

Carr Fire of Redding, California

Photo Courtesy of Kailyn Alonzo, 7/28/18

During the four long summer months, it's natural for temperatures in Northern California to soar into the triple digits.👿July 23rd, 2018, was no different, however, as a vehicle puttered along Highway 299 at 1:15 pm, it blew a tire igniting the most destructive fire in Shasta County’s history. The vehicle was near the Judge Francis Carr Powerhouse in Whiskeytown, California, 32 miles west of Redding, California. What happened within minutes ironically became known worldwide as the Carr Fire.

It wasn't long before I received word from Janice Thomas-J's Blossoms and Emily Faye Traylor, my in-the-know next door neighbors, that evacuation of our close-knit neighborhood was imminent.😲I'm grateful for living in between Janice and Emily, whose husbands are first responders for major disasters in Redding.👨‍🚒 In the wise words of Grant Butterfield, "Sandwiched by first responders. Nice!"

In only a few minutes, the Carr Fire was "plume dominated," a type of fire that spreads itself. The fire also created towering pyrocumulus clouds, which collapse at night, creating strong downdrafts, described as a tornado. The fire was also fueled by hot, dry weather and dry vegetation. High winds drove embers beyond the fire lines igniting roofs and trees. The normally blue sky was replaced with an eerie orange and red canvas.

Ashes began landing on my pristine yards making my heart race. I knew it wasn't long before Janice and Emily would send texts telling me to pack a suitcase and load up my most prized possessions. Robotically, I gathered my grown son’s childhood belongings, along with eight large plastic bins of photographs. I stayed the night at Lynna Gott's comfortable home, visiting with John Gott and their lovable dogs. By the grace of good fortune, I received word the residents in our neighborhood were able to return home the following day.

The Carr Fire continued its ferocious activity by jumping the 700-yard-wide Sacramento River, which none of the first responders expected. In its aftermath, 40,000 Redding community residents were displaced. According to Cal Fire, 126,000 acres burned for 197 square miles. More than 366 fire engines with 4,151 firefighters assisted local firefighters from 68 fire crews, along with 17 helicopters, 119 bulldozers and military personnel, too. Thousands of animals' lives were disrupted, 1,060 homes were destroyed and sadly, six people died.

🦊🐷🐿️🌳🏘️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Precious Cat Rescued and Treated at Haven Humane Society

A great-grandmother and her two young great-grandchildren died, trapped in their trailer.👵👧🧑The young boy and his sister were discovered under a wet blanket with their great-grandmother’s body lying across them. She did everything humanly possible to save her tiny tots.💜

My ultra-sensitive heart imagined this final scene. In an attempt to soothe the children’s fragile nerves, their great-grandmother calmly told them to imagine a few of their favorite things. In my mind’s eye, she said they would soon bake homemade chocolate chip cookies and watch their favorite movies, complete with a big bowl of buttered popcorn.🍪They could even stay up late, too!😀😃

She told the kids it wouldn’t be long before Halloween would be here and gave them ideas for their next costumes.🎃She also gave hints as to what would be in Santa's bag because, of course, Santa Clause knew they were perfect children.🎅🎄She also told them how much money they could expect from the Tooth Fairy, all about the treasure hunt for their next Easter Sunday and the beautifully wrapped presents they would receive for their birthdays!🎁

As this Great-GrandMother lay her exhausted body across her trembling Great-GrandChildren, she protected them from what she instinctively knew, "Grammy loves you both so very much and it won't be long before we're home, at last, I promise." As she wrapped her loving arms around them, these three angelic souls were gently lifted from the Carr Fire of Redding, California.😇😇😇