Let's Celebrate Birds

To me that title is completely oxymoronic! Here's a bit of history for new friends, and those who think they know me but don't understand the dark side.

I attended the University of Alabama, and while there, I worked as a secretarial assistant which was a glorified term for gopher. I ran every errand that the department needed. Fine by me. Walking around campus to deliver items from one department to another, chatting with friends along the way, and getting paid. Work... what work? My job was easy.... until....

I became a target. I've heard of birds being protective if you are near a nest. I was walking out in the open. The sun was bright and the air crisp. A lovely day, and then from out of nowhere this angry bird decided I needed to be destroyed. It dove down and hit me in the back of the head. Kamikaze blue jay. That's right. It hit me in the head... not just once... but over and over! I ran back to the office bewildered and received no sympathy. Oh, there was laughter, but no sympathy. 

The years pass, and I was teaching American missionary children in Nigeria. We had problems with hawks nesting above the school and the parents actually had to walk the kids to school with bats. 

Understand my fear of birds had taken root. One afternoon, after the kids had all gone home, I looked out the door and the hawks weren't there. Good, free to leave. I started walking down the road and then heard it. The horrible sound of wings beating against the air. When I saw that giant bird descending, I picked up the hem of my skirt, lifted it high, and in my flip flops I ran with the speed only Olympians can comprehend. The beast of the air was quicker. It swooped, talons extended, and went for my head. Latching on to my hair, scraping my forehead and beating my face with it's wings, it had me. I continued to run. I'm not sure how long it held on, but I  never stopped running and it finally let go. I ran straight into the missionary's house across the street and slammed the door behind me. She came out of the kitchen and screamed. I had no idea my forehead was covered in blood and my hair was frightful. I was simply shaking. After I was cleaned up and sat for a while, I was able to go home. Wiser. Looking up, and forever fearing the terror in the skies. 

Wait until tomorrow's post. You'll get to hear all about ZOMBIE DUCKS!