Journal Entry - May 2020

Since the virus has decided to make its debut, my friend and I have been taking evening constitutionals upon my return from work, weather permitting and in between his hectic zoom schedule.  When we finish our walk, we then look for one of these lovely little parks that are peppered along the Long Island Expressway, there are four of these and one big park of which is slammed shut by the city. The tiny parks are still open. We find a bench and sit. Of late there are more people in these tiny oases than usual, a relief from the shadows of the corona virus. My friend has always been a big-time bird watcher.  He always gets the best birds.  He takes pictures of hawks, robins and blue jays perched on his fire escape.  I’ve always been interested in the animal shows and a big National Geographic fan.  But of late I have become very fascinated by the birds. And taking heed from our fearless leader’s focus on nature as a source of reflecting for our journaling assignments.  Since I saw the flock of birds outside my window that one day back in the winter, even the pigeons fascinate me now.  I might have taken them for granted before, they were just part of the background. So now while we rest on the park bench birds are swooping up and down flying from tree branch to tree branch.  As these birds fly by, he educates me on their names.  The tiny parks are like bird sanctuaries in fact one of the small parks is called Cowbird Triangle. They are filled with birds of all kinds.

The other morning walking to the bus stop turning the corner at the large park I saw a cardinal. The several blocks up to the bus is like a long corridor. In the winter it is still and quiet.  Spring comes and as I walk the blocks the orchestration of song that surrounds me at 6:45 in the morning is a beautiful symphony on my morning commute.  I get on the train platform and it’s just me (there are hardly any or no people on the platform in the mornings) and the pigeons some mornings and even they are social distancing. I’m waiting for them to show up with face masks one morning. 

Lisa  5/20