When we are paying attention, just regular ol’ paying attention, nothing like a dogma or belief (which have their importance) various moments, witnessing, [insert your knowing] emerge. Such as the case, twice, this week with Gaia.

There is a large bush here on the property I’ve been watching for years now. I’ve noticed the youthfulness of it first planted years ago, to the grand expansion now, despite the droughts. Interestingly enough, this year the bush became the home to thousands, thousands!, of ladybugs. The ladybugs are of the colors red and yellow, with dots and without. What a beautiful contrast to the flowers it produces.

Fast forwarding to a few days ago, the Blue Jays have returned. As I stood outside enjoying the morning, I saw a what I thought were three fully grown Jays. They were maneuvering, weaving if you will, in and out of the limbs. Then I was distracted for a moment till I heard the distress call. The immediate thought was perhaps one of the cats managed to grab one to have its meal. Nope. One of those three was still a baby Jay…just flapping its wings away for food. The mama or the papa stood in front of it and put down two little ladybugs, then flew off back into the bush. The little one stood up straight, swished the head and flew back into the bush to get its own ladybugs. That was a peaceful moment to witness. Gaia reflected to me one of the situations someone here is going through with their child at the moment. Even though the mama or the papa of this little Jay gave, like we give, not all is received. Many lessons wrapped up in split seconds. Celebration!

And next you ask? Well, fires bring fear and promise of renewal. Is it easy knowing that if the winds shift they expand? Nope. Is it easy knowing you have friends out in the thick of such an oxygen hungry energy? Nope. Even with many other things a fire or two brings, it brings the wildlife out into the populated areas. Well, I got to see a juvenile mountain lion! It knew to stay close to the brush for camouflage and avoid certain areas. Yup, this is the part where you could tell it wasn’t hunting, more shock. I didn’t report it because no one likes there home burned out and this little one was trying to head for greener pastures…the other side, four more blocks of homes to the mountains northwest. What an awareness to witness that kind of courage. Imagine if you were running from something and knew of a safe haven, but now had to get through one more leg of a journey. (LOL, been reading up on the Sci-Fi again and just created a whole hero’s journey for the little guy.)

Even though it seems like life is moving fast, the tasks and follow-ups of the day, remember to slow down. What’s the in between? Not everything speaks a language we, individually/collectively, understand. Hell, we don’t even understand each other half the time speaking the same language. Relax. Have fun.

P.S. This is a second hand story! My neighbor says the bats are back! He had one and a few others swooping around him. We haven’t seen the bats in two years. Again, the raging fires have stirred up and out a lot. (Or damnit! It wasn’t a cold enough winter. Shoooooot dang.)