James and the Chickadees

Very recently, Shauna and Sue travelled to Toronto for James' funeral. From what I have heard and seen in pictures it was a unique, poignant, and wonderful sendoff, and I think sendoff may be the better term in this case. I wasn't there, so it is not for me to recount, but I will tell of James and the Chickadees and Sue's desire to honour James by attempting to feed them once she was here, back home.

Upon leaving the sendoff, visitors were given a package. It did not include the apples or container, of course, but it did include the other items that you see here. 

Help James continue to fee the birds

At one point in his life, James had succumbed to alcohol abuse. In the first day of his sobriety, twelve years ago, James went to a local conservation area to feed the birds, and he continued to do so over the subsequent years.

Sue knew that she must try to honour James and this request, so off she went. The first stop was to a woodsy park near the river where chickadees have been both seen and heard. Sue tried her best, but they were scarce on that day, and we only heard one or two in the distance.

Fortunately, she had brought apples slices smeared with peanut butter with seeds applied so that she could affix slices to trees and branches. Surely, birds eventually found them and enjoyed a delightful treat, but we weren't there tp bear witness.

Not being one to give up easily, she moved on to a totally different area across town where we had also seen and heard chickadees.

There were no takers along the trail. A bluejay did show interest, but could not be enticed.

Just off the trail was a little space where someone had erected a little platform that I have never seen anyone use, so into the clearing she ventured. This time we could hear and even see them, but, alas, there were no takers.

I don't think the chickadees in this area are used to being handfed. I haven't seen photos on our town photo blog, and I am sure that there would be postings if such visitation existed. However, Sue's sister, Heather, did have success right after the sendoff at the very location where James used to go in Toronto.

This is the kind of gesture that good people do for the dearly departed and for loved ones who survive them. It is how we feel connected to others in this cycle of life and death that is our reality.