The First Bird I Saw This Year

It was on the afternoon of January 1st. I went outside to take a run after an extensive ebelskiver breakfast. I was underdressed and, as it happened, brimming with spherical pancakes, so I decided to take a brisk walk instead.

On my brisk walk I saw a blue jay. It was hailing a bit at that point, wee scratchy rocks tumbling down from a steely gray sky, and I was surprised to see such a bright hopping creature in the midst of the tumult. Hop, hop, hop down the driveway of the house guarded by a pair of Library Lions. The blue jay was the first animal I’d seen all year.

Maybe it meant something!

I have done a bit of research on bluejays.

They stand for loquaciousness, communication, expression, assertiveness, creativity, confidence, vitality, loyalty, solidarity, and the will to protect.

Other attributes I see are: resourcefulness, fearlessless in regard to protecting loved ones, and the ability to make the best of their environment.

I’ll take it!

Bunny, tiger, octopus, let’s welcome a new totem into the menagerie this year — the blue jay.

Readers: do you have an animal totem?