My father is adjusting well to his new digs at Timberwood Memory Care in Albany, Oregon. Last Tuesday, my sister Lori, and I visited him in the morning. While she served him a favorite orange roll out in the commons area, I mounted his two beautiful taxidermy ducks on the wall of his suite. After he finished his treat we retired to his room. As Dad settled into his comfy chair, he looked up to see his birds, and swooned.

“Oh, you beautiful bird, you greyhound of the skies,” he said, his eyes fixed on the Pintail. “I thank you every day for being in my life, for letting me keep you, for being the spirit of outside here inside with me. And Wood Duck, you are the most beautiful bird in the world. I know, because I looked through thousands of pictures of birds in bird encyclopedia, none as stunning as you, gorgeous male bird. I thank you every day for being in my life — greyhound of the sky, and most beautiful bird in the world.”