Counting
Crows
Today, May 11, 2015, would
have been my Dad’s one hundred third birthday. Of course, he has been gone a
long time since he passed away in a freakish traffic accident in March 1989, a
few weeks short of seventy-seven. Do I miss him? Yes and no. We had some rocky times but also many good ones.
This morning, I was sitting on the patio around ten o’clock
enjoying a bit of sunshine and quiet. Then a big black bird flew by, squawking
loudly. It was followed by two more and then yet another. They flew on south
for a short while, but then circled back and began to soar and spiral over my
back yard for several minutes, perhaps a hundred feet in the air or bit more.
They ‘talked’ as they do–having quite a range of sounds, if one listens.
Finally, they all flew away.
I then remembered how I learned to count crows. Of course
these, like the ones I used to watch in Arizona ,
are actually ravens. The two species are related, but ravens are considerably larger. Still we called them all crows. I think
most folks do.
Dad was Irish, perhaps not one hundred percent by blood, but completely in his personality. He had all the
stereotypical traits: volatile, voluble, charming when he chose to be, fiercely
loyal, moody, superstitious and given to drama. About the only one he missed
was in not being a drunkard. For the first twelve or so years of my life, he
was my hero.
Since I was the eldest child, I
did a great deal of driving, riding and working with him and we often saw
crows. I was very young
when I learned from him the little fortune-telling rhyme, which I expect came down from old Celtic folklore.
“One is
unlucky, two is lucky, three is health, four is wealth, five is sickness
and
six is quickness.”
I guess you were not supposed to see more than that at once!
Of course, you did not want to admit to seeing five or only
one. I can remember Dad looking away for a few seconds and then back again to
alter the count. Decades later, I still count crows and always try to get a
fortunate number. But to see two, three
and then four? Well, there was one at first, but still, what a collection of
favorable omens!
 |
| At a happier time, me on Lady and Dad with Charlie, about 2 1/2, on Chindy |
Perhaps
more importantly, I was given a chance to
reconnect with my Dad in this odd way. We did not always get along and he could
be difficult and some-times downright mean, but I never doubted that
he loved me, even on the very worst days. So, on this anniversary of his birth,
did he send those birds to remind me and offer a positive oracle for me, or was
it just happenstance?
Of course there is
no way to know. Still, I can believe what I wish and I can go on counting crows
until the end of my days. I do not doubt that I will. And just maybe, luck,
health and wealth are on the way to me soon.
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