the great blue heron

i was driving along the lakefront tonight, about an hour ago (9pm), and unbelievably, i saw a great blue heron standing in a snowbank in the boulevard. right there in the middle of the street, at night. in the snow. i totally rubber-necked and hit my brakes, looking for a place to pull over. instead i had to drive umpty bazillion yards to find a place to turn around, and then drive umpty bazillion yards back to try and find him. i was terrified the entire time, certain he must have been hit by a car, or frozen to the snow, or something awful. i wondered what in god's name i would do with a great blue heron at 9pm on a sunday night--just put him in my back seat and take him home? i pictured him pecking me in the head as i drove him to my house. it's funny the things you think about in these weird panicky times.

anyhow, i drove all the way back, and couldn't find him. i made yet another u-turn and drove past the original spot where i saw him--not there. i drove around in a loooong oval like this three times, searching the wooded side of the road, then searching the lakefront/beach side of the road--no birdie. finally i decided he must have been okay, and had simply flown away. whew. but still, how bizarre!

Comments

[Luke]

That brought a smile to my face. I love moments like that -- well, the initial meeting and the following relief, not the panic. :)

[gen]

i totally laughed out loud at "pecking my head as i drove him to my house...".
i'm glad he was okay. :)

[girl least likely to]

heh, thanks guys. i was relieved, too! :)