The Aerial Gift

Mother was originally to come home on Friday . The hours before her supposed release were spent getting ready , including a mad dash to the supermarket . She had been so...special...I figured quickie micro meals would keep the beast at bay and get food on the table as fast as possible . The bags were duly loaded into the car when I noticed movement above me . There in the deep blue sky was a red-tailed hawk . They have always held a fascination for me...so powerful and majestic...lifting my spirits at every sighting . Having learned a passable imitation of his cry , I whistled to him . He wheeled in lovely, lazy circles to see what was foolish enough to call one from whom most fled in terror . The whistle was repeated and the effortless spiral became smaller until we were in each other's sight . He was magnificent !!! His opinion of me is unknown , but surely open admiration was communicated aloft and was pleasing .