I have often said that if I die in a car accident, it will be because my wife was suddenly distracted by a big bird while she was driving. I can be in mid-sentence, relating a significant thought to her, and she will interrupt to point out a bird!
Her fascination with birds, both large and small, has grown over the years and is the very reason that we found ourselves sitting, fairly well-hidden, watching an osprey feeding her young. This was not the first time we had witnessed this event. In fact, it was the seventh day in a row that we had hiked out along the path through the meadow filled with early spring wild flowers and into a hollow that we had discovered which pretty much concealed our presence. I had to admit that the osprey were, indeed, fascinating birds. I especially enjoyed watching them dive from the sky in the cove just beyond the nest as they hunted fish.
But my attention wandered from time to time, especially as I noted movement in the meadow. The previous day, I was treated to the sight of a doe and her two young fawns, oblivious to the fact that we sat barely twenty yards from where they were grazing.
For the first time in the week, however, I spotted other people. My wife's attention was on the birds, but I watched as a couple about our own ages slowly walked along the path. The woman was carrying a picnic basket, and the man had a blanket rolled under his arm.
As they grew near, I nudged her and quietly asked if we should let them know that we were there. She thought that it might scare the birds and preferred to sit quietly and let them pass by.
I agreed, but monitored their progress, ready to call out if I felt that they might in any way encroach upon the osprey's territory. It was quite a surprise when they slowed and stopped at the very spot where I had observed the deer the previous day. The man surveyed his surroundings and then told his wife that it looked like the perfect spot. He spread the blanket, and the two of them sat down.
The woman reached into her basket and produced sandwiches and chips, and what appeared to be lemonade. She pulled out a very small insulated bag and dropped ice cubes from it into cups and then proceeded to pour the lemonade. They appeared to be in no rush, talking and pointing out wild flowers between bites of their sandwiches.
It dawned on me that it would be rather awkward if they happened to learn that we were within earshot, but I figured that they were nearly done and would soon be on their way, never the wiser that their picnic had been observed.
I could not have been more wrong. I had turned to look at the osprey for only a few seconds when motion in the meadow drew my attention back to the couple. I watched in complete astonishment as the woman began to unbutton her blouse. She was smiling at the man, now speaking so softly that there was not the slightest chance that I could hear what she was saying, but then I did not need to.
