treetop news
“We don’t need a rodent and a man in a top hat…we’ve got Ernie,” said Urania.
“Zero degrees Fahrenheit and Ernie is in full voice,” added Thalia.
“Can somebody remind me why we call him Ernie?” asked Calliope.
“Calliope…you’re so considerate…asking a question you already know the answer to as a device to clarify our muse speak to the readers,” said Thalia. “I’m glad we’re friends.”
“You’re not getting my portion of baked oatmeal and bacon Tal…and thanks for your appreciation,” Calliope offered Thalia an eye crinkling smile.
Urania said, “Ernie is our generic name for the male cardinals who amuse us as our Midwestern daylight begins to eat away at both ends of night.”
“Years ago we wrote a story about a cardinal singing joyfully on a snowy morn as we brushed snow off the kid’s truck,” said Thalia.
“And a reader told us they call their cardinal Ernie!” said Calliope. “It takes kindness to recognize kindness?”
“We felt delighted and adopted Ernie’s name ourselves,” Urania closed the circle.
“Somebody call the lexicographer!” Thalia shouted.
…the truth of a life really has little to do with its quality. The quality of a life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight. The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention. ~pg. 53 The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Ernie, meet Roddy, our groundhog. Ernie wins in the looks department, for sure, lol. I wonder why we name our wildlife? Maybe your muses will know?
“...as our Midwestern daylight begins to eat away at both ends of night.” What a perfect phrase!
A zero degree morning and there sat Ernie, about the weight of a handful of powdered snow, somehow finding the power to greet the new day.
Wonderfully written!!