I Gotta Do It

Do you have any odd compulsions? I have odd compulsions. Let me tell you about one of them...

I have this thing for birdhouses. Well, not just birdhouses, I guess. Also birdbaths and birdfeeders. Wherever I live, I put up bird feeders and bird baths and bird houses. The birds seem to appreciate it. The baths and feeders, anyway. You see, I've never had a bird actually move into a bird house.

Why do I do it? I just don't know. What's the point of putting up a bird house if a bird doesn't move in? Is it a bird house if it doesn't house birds, or is it just a stupid wooden box?

Even though I've never had any luck with bird houses, I still hang them up. It's stupid. It's not logical. It's not like me.

I guess it's like carrying a rabbit's foot, or putting up a dreamcatcher. It's not as much the outcome as the action that's important. It's the journey, not the destination. The mere fact that I put up a birdhouse means that I've done my part. I tried. Just because the birds haven't seen fit to move in doesn't mean that I'm a failure in life.

Does it?

When we moved here to Oregon I put up all the stuff I put up for the birds. Baths. Feeders. Houses. It's what I do. I just have to accept the fact that I'm me and learn to live with me.

Evidently, the birds have learned to live with me, too!


This time, my efforts have not been in vain! There be birds living here! A pair of nuthatches, who flitter around and sound like frenetic squeak toys.


This other house has a pair of tree swallows, who like to fly around in big graceful swoops, and who can fly straight into the birdhouse without crashing. I was hoping the bluebirds would move in here, but they disappeared from our yard after about a week and we haven't seen them since.

I've peeked inside both houses, and in each one there's a nice nest nestled in the bottom fabricated from grass, feathers, fluffs and fabric. Actually, along with the houses and other stuff in the yard we have a "woolie" ... a mesh bag stuffed with fibers that the birds pluck to use in their nests. It beats having them pluck hairs from your head as you walk along. There were birds where Connie used to work that would do that. ouch!

If a paranoid is really being followed is he really a paranoid? If my fruitless efforts actually bear fruit, am I still a neurotic?

Don't answer that.


Blog Tag: Chatter