something I am grateful for today

I went out to a parking lot this mornin to find a cute sparrow-like bird standing next to my car. It was drinking out of a puddle my wheel happened to be in. Actually it let me get quite close before it finally decided that it better make itself scarce; so I got a fair look at its interesting mottled feathers before it flew off.

I don't often see birds nearby and close-up in January. On the other hand, I don't often see puddles in January either - usually it'd be ice patches. So maybe the unusual weather today prompted an unusual avian visit? In any case, a nice little nature treat for me.

tempus fugit

My dad died three years ago today. So, like most people do, I find him rather on my mind today. I will also need to phone my mom to make sure she's okay, because she experiences the Anniversary Effect™ somewhat more than many folks seem to.

What really strikes me as strange today, though, is when I realize he's been gone three years, because I find myself thinking that it feels much longer. I usually go on about how quickly the days and years fly by as I get older, everything seems to happen so fast. I'd expect that my reaction today would be “Has it really been three years already? Seems like only yesterday Dad was still here...” Whereas I'm actually thinking “Three years? Is that all?” It almost feels like he's been gone longer than I knew him.

A lot of things have happened and changed in my life since he left us, so maybe that has something to do with it, I dunno: seems like a lot of life has gone by, maybe? Still, I'm finding my awareness of the time to be unexpected and weird...