Encounters --- by Ray Hart

Speaking Of Eagles...

I smile a lot. Even when I'm not feeling too good I still have this tendency to smile. (Even during some of the rough times I have been able to smile!) I think there is a possibility that I have a "smile gene" if there is such a thing!

One of the many things that makes me smile is a gift of an eagle statue from Joy! I do have a few hanging around the computer, around the dining room, and around just about every place else! Reading about eagle@lovethissite.com reminded me of the eagles in Colorado. Of course there are eagles everywhere now that they have been removed from the endangered list, but they have always been power beings in our beloved Native American heritage. And they have always been fascinating to me.

Whenever I see an eagle, or a hawk, I feel a special blessing in my life.

While living in Colorado, Joy, Glenna and I went to Vallecito to just enjoy the beauty of the lake area in the middle of the San Juan Mountains. We happened to be there during the time when the trout was over populated and people gathered with their buckets, coolers, and whatever to get the trout being given away by the local officials. We were enraptured by the beauty of the Coloradian mountains and valleys, and the lakes, streams and skies that make Colorado one of God's treasured gifts to us mere mortals.

We were making the sounds of delight at every sight! What a wonderful world this is! How blessed we are! I mean, we were doing better than the Rocky Mountain High!

We were at the site where the trout were being given to the folks and Glenna squealed that there were TWO eagles overhead! Of course we looked up and saw the white heads and tails soaring majestically. We watched silently, accepting our double blessing. And then another soared and joined the other two! And, then, another! Would you believe that another arrived! ("And then there were five!")

I really couldn't believe it, but Glenna said "But, of course." And Joy assured me that I wasn't hallucinating from the intoxicating elevation and the surrounding beauty.

It is one of those memories that appears often in my thoughts, and I again feel blessed, and I again remind myself to not forget the gratitude list.

And then, of course, my smile is ear to ear!

--- © by Ray Hart

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