Facing New Normals

I sat sipping coffee at the kitchen counter when I heard an odd flapping sound. Oh no! A small bird had flown in through an open door and was now darting around, panicked and banging into windows. I too felt panicked, as I realized that I was the one who had to get this bird back outside.

I used to count on my husband, Lynn, to tackle such problems, but I no longer asked because he no longer could. He was still asleep, getting the rest he needed to deal with his daily challenges from the lingering effects of brain cancer and radiation. Our new normal makes me feel inadequate because I’m not good at many of my new responsibilities, like understanding insurance policies or chasing a frightened bird around the house.

I grabbed a kitchen towel, thinking I might throw it over the bird so I could scoop him up. The towel was too heavy. I tried a pillowcase and finally, that worked!

“You’re going to be okay, little bird,” I said as I wrapped the furiously fluttering creature in the pillowcase. We got to the open door and I released him.

“We did it!” I said, watching him soar away, free from panic. I felt a similar relief. In spite of experiencing the panic, I had solved the problem.

A great way to start the morning.