Bird Theory

Are the birds you see really just birds?

I have a weird theory.

I believe that the people and pets who die in your life come back to check in on you — as birds.

We lost Pepper our dog of 14 years this past week.

Then a few days later my friend and colleague Jacques “Lew” Lewkowicz passed away, too.

So I’ve had death on my mind. And birds on the brain.

I’ve had this bird theory for a long time. I became aware of it when I was in my early 20s when my grandpa Mike died. A few days after his funeral I was going for a run when I saw a sparrow land on a fire hydrant. The bird looked at me briefly and flew off.

I said to myself, “That was Grandpa Mike.” And ever since, with every subsequent parting in my life, I felt that person come back to me now and again — as a bird.

I’m sure this sounds odd. And anyone who knows me knows I’m not some kind of woo-woo, sixth sense kind of guy.

I’m far too pragmatic for all that.

But…

I’m sharing this bird theory with you because maybe it can comfort you if you’ve lost someone close.

Or maybe you can corroborate this because you’ve experienced it, too.

These birds.

Yesterday I was walking along the Hudson River and I saw a whole gaggle of Canadian geese. Some of them looked over at me. Some didn’t. One of them stared right into my eyes.

I immediately thought, “Pepper?”

Could it be she was seeing how I was?

I believe it.

Maybe now you do, too.

Image: Colin @artpaintingcanvas.com