We are Family

The birds at the condo now have their baby.  

This week we celebrate All Saints.  Most people out there focus on its eve, Halloween.  I much prefer the feast as we remember our big family, all those who have gone before us and make us who we are today.  All those who have loved us for better or worse.  I would prefer to say - all those who did the best they could for us with who they were.

Whatever we do or believe, whoever we are; life moves on.  The picture here features Om's bird family.  He cares for them and talks to them every day.  They are family and they are are a special part of Om's life.  It just is they are birds - mama bird, papa bird and baby bird.  They are a new and happy family with the arrival of their baby who is now out and about.  They lead a peaceful, blissful life together but behind this family lies a story. 

There was a different papa bird, Kitty, who died earlier in the year.  I remember how sad I felt when Om told me that Kitty had died.  Om got another male bird, Kevin, who, with the ongoing Cindy, produced a baby bird and so now it is the happy family unit.  Every happy family has a story.  A happy ending?  For now, yes.  Families don't just happen.  They take hard work and involve suffering and sacrifice but in the end it is all worth it.  Yes, this week we celebrate with joy our big family.