Archive for August, 2009

Ravens…true ravens, are quite rare here. We have the magpies in plenty…crows for short (even though a raven is a crow), and there are some really big ones of the magpie variety…this is Texas afterall…but there is no question when you are looking at a raven.

Very, very rare here.

But there are a few. Ravens that is. Big birds. Over two feet tall. Better than a four foot wingspan. They are a deep metallic, shimmering blue/black in the Texas sun. There is no mistaking them.

Impressive. I’ve seen them in other places…in the wild…usually at a distance.

I’ve seen two here in Texas. Just two here, in my entire lifetime. Both of them close up. One of them was yesterday.

Do you believe in omens?

I do. I didn’t. I shouldn’t. But I do. The first raven I saw here taught me that…better than 30 years ago. I’ll write that up someday…when the screams no longer invade my dreams.

Omens.

Yesterday, right there in TDMN parking lot, when it was time to head home, there, sitting on my handlebars…a raven. Gigantic. Metallic blue shimmering in the bright sunlight. Motionless. Almost unreal. Staring at me as I approached.

An omen.

Not good.

Of course I spoke to it, “What do you want.”

It squawked, but did not leave.

I waved my hands. “Shoo!”

I got the impression it was amused.

There’s another part to an omen. Like much in life…the whole story is not just what you see…but also what you feel.

I had a feeling. Deep and primal. I ignore these at my peril.

I walked right up to the bird on the bike…our eyes were at the same level. Gawd he was big.

Inches from him I spoke, “No. Not yet.”

He looked uncertain.

I nodded at the bike, “You’ll know where to find me.”

One sweep of his massive wings and he was gone. He brushed my head on the way by. I turned to follow his flight, reaching up and running my hand though my hair. He was gone. My hand came away bloody.

Crud.

The blood from the superficial wound mixed with sweat and trickled down my face as I mounted the big cruiser.

As the machine grumbled to life I wondered how far or how fast I’d have to run. Of course, I’ve been a long way…to the ends of the earth actually…at least some of them…and I know all that distance…all those miles…it’s simply not far or fast enough.

You can’t outrun your fate.

Might be fun to try though.

I left the parking lot and headed for the highway, leaving behind me some fairly stunned coworkers…the smoking area was occupied and is adjacent to the bike parking.

I overheard several comments as I pulled away;
“Good Gawd!”
“What was that?”
“I didn’t even see that thing until he talked to it!”
“Was he bleeding?”

I just grinned and twisted the throttle.

As I got out of downtown and hit the highway my spirit flew even as my speeds climbed.

My mind was churning. I needed time to think.

The long way home was in order.

No, you can’t outrun your fate.

You can change it though.

I just wonder what I should change it to?

It’s not in me to fear the future. I’ll handle what comes when it comes and I’ll enjoy my life whilst I do so.

But I’ll be holding the wife extra tight tonight.

It should be an interesting weekend!

CUAgain,
Daniel Meyer