Andare, Partire, Tornare ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- barred owls and heart attacks After that manic Saturday (the unknown Bangles B-side), Sunday was relatively serene. The Bemo and I went to Huntley Meadows, which consists of a boardwalk wending its way through a wetland populated by blue heron, mule deer, red-winged blackbirds, and, as we learned that trip, barred owls. We were walking along the dirt path that leads to the boardwalk area and came upon a clutch of excited birdwatchers, all holding binoculars or manning telescopes. One of them waved us over and I asked if it was a bald eagle nest - there's a mated pair in the area. "No, but I think you'll like them anyway," she giggled - he's just up there like a movie star ignoring the paparazzi." I peeked into the telescope, and sure enough, there was a big, gorgeous barred owl perched in the tree, staring solemnly out into space. His mate hopped around behind him. The tree top was swaying in the breeze, and he just held on and contemplated life. It was a really cool little adventure in the middle of a gorgeous day. After the park, we found a weird little Mexican place and ate fajitas. Mmmm, fajitas. Switching gears here - this concerns news that Bemo just got from his mom. Bemo's brother, who just turned 32 a week or so ago, has apparently had a heart attack. The doctor said that it sometimes takes up to ten days for scarring to form, and that Dickhead needed to come in for an EKG, but since he doesn't have health insurance, that won't happen. Basically, he signed himself out AMA and went home to try and pretend nothing happened, which is par for the course with the menfolk in that family. The weird situation is this - Bemo and Dickhead (and Bemo's shrew of a sister) have been on the outs for the past two years. Bemo offered the apology he was asked to for his part in a big argument (which he didn't feel he had to make, but offered because his mom was agitated about the family feuding) and was rebuffed. From that point on, Dickhead has made it a point of pretending Bemo doesn't exist even if they're in the same room. Bemo feels that he has done all he needs to do and doesn't owe anymore. I think, and Phelps and caerula agreed, that maybe a brusque but well-intended get-well-soon card may not be a bad idea, even if all it does is make their mom happy. May not be possible to get Bemo to do this - he's dug in his heels pretty firmly, and he can be quite mule-like when he wants to be. But it might be for the best. Going to have to tackle him on it, I think. But I wouldn't be surprised if he refuses, and to be quite honest, I can't blame him too much. Dickhead is seeped in bitterness like a pickle is in vinegar, and much of it stems from the fact that he disclosed what he thought was a heinous childhood secret in the hopes of shocking and saddening their mom and turning her against Bemo. When it failed, he withdrew into a hardened shell of anger and hasn't really been seen since. Families, huh? They're the best at knowing exactly where to push in the knife. And they're more ruthless about twisting it once it's in. 3:51 p.m. - 2003-03-11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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