To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. –Pete Seeger How do you mark #time? Better question, perhaps: How do you measure the seasons of your life? I’m not sure “measure” is the best word for what I’m asking, but it’s the only one I can come up with right now. Here’s what I’m getting at…. I moved to Louisiana 21 years ago with a husband, two dogs and two living parents in another state. All of them are gone now. All five have died. So this is the season of being alone. Well,…

Be still. Wait. Listen. Look intently. A bird just might #visit you. Or an angel. What’s the difference? I’m not sure. Both bear gifts of awareness, wonder, fleeting glimpses of the Divine.

Early afternoon Oct. 26, I left the Gulf Coast and headed north on the east leg of the Creole Nature Trail (La. Hwy 27, Cameron Parish). A side trip on the Pintail Wildlife Drive before dark was on my agenda. It’s a beautiful drive. Some of my friends call me “lead foot,” but on the Creole Trail, I poke along. You never know what you might encounter. But… an osprey? Profile from a distance looks promising. I ease to the side of the road, bring up the 300mm lens. Sure enough. Hooked beak, dark band around a yellow eye and…