As we all knew, most people got their own way of passing their individual time, others called it recreation, pastime, relaxation, but nowadays -intellectually describe as hobby.
I got one, it's called Bird-watching.
Not of your ordinary bird-watching type. I prefer watching them birds from its -ika nga, pinanggalingan.
To make myself a little bit understood, I want to watch these birds from its inception, from a shell -encased state to the wonder of metamorphosis, hanggang sa kanilang paglipad and on their selfless offering of blissful and melodious singing.
This hobby of mine have been a time consuming one. It did not only occupy my day-time activities, it even inhabit my dreams during the long nights and short mid-day naps.
And it happened this way.
I saw a bird hatching. First I saw its beak. Knocking the shell without letup. I saw the chicks -baldheaded and bare of minimum feather. Helpless and possibly cannot even feed himself. I was totally engrossed in its daily progress up to the time for him to fly. I could even imagine his mama-bird coaching him. "Sige, lipad, ikampay mo pakpak mo. You must, otherwise you could not be a bird. Birds fly and you must."
Then in a time where everything must happen, this bird flew from his nest. Accompanied by his loving Papa-bird and Mama-bird, flies over river, oceans, mountains and almost tried touching the heavens.
Being now an old man, I got tired of waiting for them to be back and again be near me for my earnest hope of watching, and -probably even of touching his now silvery and multi-colored wings.
He now seldom come. As most birds are, they have to widen their horizons. I went home alone promising myself to be back and again see Him fly. But that was no longer the case. I seldom see him fly again. Most certainly he is busy learning, to sing, to fly and explore the skies. Discovering the limitless skies and may even be contemplating measuring the stretches of the heavens.
I was helpless as a Bird-watcher. I can only watch, but cannot fly. I waited. I seldom saw. Bird-watching was no longer a hobby. It became an ordeal.
That was when I awakened. "Tony, Tony, gising na. Binabangungot ka yata." Said Nanay Thew.
I said "No, I was just feeling extremely sad" "Why, ano napanaginipan mo?" "Oh, wala nainip lang akong mag hintay sa lumipad na ibon,"
Nanay Thew said, "Hayaan mo panaginip mo lang yon." I said to myself, "Oo nga siguro, panaginip lang," So I scratched my head to assure myself that I was really dreaming.
That is when I felt the bird's Poo in my head.
A Bird Watcher's Story.
Copyright ©
by Mr. Antonio L. Enciso Sr.
1941-2010
