Cardinal Has A Birthday

To a bird, longevity was the most desirable. Most birds who wintered, spring, summer and fall in this same frozen terrain lived on average three to four seasonal cycles. Yet, most of these birds might have had life, but they did not live. They followed the same paths, lived in the same nests, frequented the same feeders, and sought shade in the same shrubs as those that flew before them. But not Cardinal, he flew to his own flutter. Certainly, he had routine, wake up when the world was still sleeping; do 50 wing stretches, or like his friend Downy Woodpecker walk at an incline on an oak or maple; steam and spritz, but beyond this routine the world was a canvas to paint or a field to flower. He also was not one to hang out exclusively with his own, his current companion was Hummingbird, and though similar in many ways (both had wings, both independent, both busy like bees) they were of differing aviaries. His nest was impeccable, made with the finest straw and leaves and Hummingbird, usually was content to squat in others' nests, shrubs or tree trunks. "As long as there is a leaf, I'm fine," she would chirp.

When a bird birthday arrives there is a massive celebration, one year in the life of a bird is equal to eight or nine years in the life of a human. Bird life was fast, furious and temporary and thus needed to be celebrated. Every day it seemed there was some big bird parade celebrating White-Crowned Sparrow or Black Capped Chickadee or (Tufted) Titmouse’s accomplishment of making it another year in the world. Such sentiments did not appeal to Cardinal. On his birthday he simply wanted to live, celebrating it seemed a waste of invaluable time. Or maybe it was just the spectacle? Or maybe it was because he never knew who to invite to these celebrations, having friends of various flocks and feathers. Or maybe it was all three.

As his birthday approached, Hummingbird, who spoke faster than the speed of sound (she, like Cardinal didn’t believe in pauses or periods, just commas and ellipses) asked him,

So…what do you want to do? A, um, um bird parade through the yard, up the willow tree or, or, or maybe, maybe um you can go swimming at your favorite bird baths, or you can eat at your favorite feeder, and I can make sure there are lots of bugs and seeds or maybe we can sleep in late and you can warm me up, and I-I-I can give you a really long beak rub or …

Cardinal did a grandiose feather shake, (he was keeping his head feathers a little longer in the front, ‘more stylish,’ said Hummingbird) and spoke,

Hummingbird whatever it is, it is. We can lay out a simple plan, but let’s not over plan. I would rather this be a ‘live day’ rather than a ‘birth day’. Birthdays are either about the past or celebrating survival. I want to celebrate living. But you can give me a beak rub, if you really want, sure, that would be fine.

So, on the day of his birthday, which was now going to be called, “Live Day’, they began as they did every Saturday, awaking when the sky was still sleeping, and making their way to their across the yard to their early morning stretch spot ---

ready…to be…in the world.