By Georgia Osten
There we were, me and Maezy, Day 1 of our 4-day weekend, just the two of us. Ah, we were looking forward to whatever would come our way. It was a beautiful day, mellow temps, so I had the front door open like I usually do. One of the back windows was open to get a nice cross draft going. I, sitting at my computer, Maezy sleeping under my chair, when all of a sudden, she got up to go investigate the sounds coming from the living room. I tried to ignore it until it got louder and closer.

Of all things, a bird had flown in through the front door. It’s not the first time, so I wasn’t too concerned. We had a hummingbird once. It was caught in the blinds and I simply walked up behind it with a towel and grabbed it. This bird was, after all, in the front part of our house where the ceilings are really high, so I knew I’d have to find the longest crab/fishing net we had. Maezy followed me downstairs to the garage and decided to stay there in the golf cart, thinking that was why we came downstairs …

The bird managed to escape my net many times. Once it landed inside our highest light fixture and I couldn’t even see it. All my thoughts were focused on “how are we going to sleep with a dang bird in the house.” Why of all times was my husband away when something like this happened. I thought of calling the police or the fire department. After all, they get cats out of high trees don’t they?

The bird came out of hiding inside the lamp and flew into my bedroom and adjoining bath, lower ceilings, I felt I would have a better chance. That’s when I noticed it was a Mockingbird, our State Bird, the meanest bird alive!

It flew into the shower and got mesmerized by the little window near the ceiling, where all the bath powder sits. As I tried to snare the critter, powder flew all over the place, into my eyes, destroying my contacts, I was blinded – time out while I go rinse the contacts – stay there bird!

I finally caught him in my net using a bath towel to throw over the net, managed to get him to the back door, open the door and let him fly free. I came back to the capture scene only to find a few feathers mixed in with the bath powder. It was a will of minds, I exhausted the poor guy, but I was determined I wasn’t going to let him sleep in my house for the remaining 4 days.

All I kept thinking about was Atticus Finch and Scout, I was determined To (not) Kill a Mockingbird. You’re welcome, my fine feathered friend.

GO’s Sand Bucket is only one beach bum’s journal of life at the beach, probably something each of you can relate to. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts, visions and/or feelings of just exactly what the beach means to you. Email: [email protected]

[12-11-2017]