Open Writing

Supersized sparrows

Amongst our many winter birdfeed customers is a flock of house sparrows. English Sparrows, we used to call them. I guess that wasn’t politically correct, but we didn’t know any better. Anyway, one of these sparrows is much larger and different looking from the others. Looks a lot like a cowbird. But it was hatched and raised by sparrow parents, and has lived always with the sparrow flock. Sort of like an orphaned grizzly bear brought up by a Shropshire sheep family.

That’s how cowbirds operate. The female lays her egg in some other bird’s nest. Since it is much larger and stronger than most small birds, it quickly takes over when it hatches, and often the bird’s real chicks starve or get kicked out. With any luck, this one will meet another odd-looking bird just like it, and nature will take its course. But for now this ugly duckling of a sparrow sure has a hard time eating from feeders meant for smaller beaks. Nature sure is strange.

Good Driving Is Knowing When Not To Drive

I spent over 30 years of my youth working as an insurance underwriter. Part of my job was reviewing driver’s records and accident reports. I was not too sympathetic to the problems of aging drivers.

The problem is that, like drivers of any age, they tend to over-drive their abilities. That’s more often true for males than females. But it’s the cause of many accidents.

In weather like this, Boone County doesn’t need an old coot like me out there cluttering up traffic. It sounds like bragging, but I am a good driver. And part of being a good driver is knowing when to stay off the roads.

Come to think of it, over-driving your ability is the cause of many problems that have nothing to do with vehicles. Biting off more than you can chew, is another way of saying it. Have you ever done that?

The Catfood café

Not much business at my catfood feeders. Mr. Gray, the barn cat, visits several times some days. This past week we have had one medium-sized possum show up on three evenings, tank up on food and water, and disappear. I guess the others are still snoozing.

Neither opossums nor raccoons hibernate, and opossums don’t even have regular dens, but they put on all the weight they can in the fall, and deal with inclement weather by finding a warm dry place, and staying there until there’s a break in the weather. That’s pretty much what I do, unless some one prods me out.

Mobile office

The new parka I mail-ordered on the Internet came last week. Just in time. Very nice, and less expensive than you might think. A parka is almost more tool than garment. A mobile office. It has all sorts of pockets and snaps and Velcro closures and zippers and snaps and buttons. A hood which can be configured to fit your needs and likes. Elastic cords and toggles.

You almost need a manual to get it properly configured and learn how to use it.

Expanding presence

I bought another article of clothing, which hardly seems noteworthy. A new pair of winter weight workpants. Pretty mundane. Except for one thing. They are two inches bigger around the waist than any I’ve ever worn.

I have plenty of pants. Dress slacks, bib overalls. Suit pants, blue jeans, Whatever. But they keep shrinking around the waist. I finally reached the point where I only had two pair of blue jeans I could wear with the top button closed. And if I hadn’t been practicing breathing exercises due to my lung problems, I’d never have been able to suck in enough to snap. . Even the ones marked ‘Relaxed Fit’ and ‘Stretch’ are snug.

Not all the increase is muscle. But the rest is only temporary. I’ll soon be able to trim off that excess. No need for a new belt. I’ve only gained 20 inches of waist in 50 years.

That’s not so bad, is it?