Nighttime Serenade

Rev. Dr. Kate Winters

I bolted straight up in bed last night, awakened by the distinct sound of a barred owl just outside the window. Joel asked, “Do you hear something?” My first thought was how could he not hear it? But then I remembered two things – first, his fairly serious hearing loss, and second, I think my hearing is especially tuned in to this particular sound from this particular bird. After all, this is the way my mother has communicated with me since her death in 2016.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that we were serenaded last night. Yesterday was full of disappointment. I was packed and emotionally ready to head toward Portland tomorrow for my pre-op appointment before Friday’s surgery. Yes, I know you must be as tired hearing about this as I am writing about it. Well, I got a call in the late afternoon from Kim, my surgeon’s nurse. She told me that they are postponing my surgery for another two weeks to May 4th because of too many other urgent cases they need to handle. My immediate response was “But, I’m ready! Waiting is hard!” But then I fully took in her words and realzed that I am blessed not to be one of those urgent cases. Now, my cardiologist in Belfast told me not to wait too long, but he isn’t handling the surgical schedule at Maine Med.

Both Joel and I felt quite deflated. It has been over a month now that we have known of the need for this bypass. We haven’t spent these days a lot differently than we otherwise would have, though I do notice him asking how I am doing more frequently. There is a deeper awareness in the day-to-day of what we mean to one another. Another blessing.

Now there is also the owl. Actually, I think there were two or three owls surrounding our house last night. Mom brought some friends. They did sing to us, even loud enough for Joel to hear. For those who haven’t heard my owl story, I will just share that ever since my father had a heart attack, a barred owl took to watching over my mother from the woods that surrounded her home in Conneticut. It showed up whenever there was a need. One time when I visited them from Wisconsin, I went out to the deck and whispered a thanks into the trees, asking the owl if I could see her. Within seconds, she flew down to the branch closest to me (I exaggerate not) and stared at me with her beautiful brown eyes. I was awed. There is much more to this story, but I’ll end with saying that I hadn’t heard a barred owl’s call after moving to Maine until the morning of my mother’s birthday the year that she died. I cried happy tears.

So, of course, we were serenaded last night. My mom sensed a need, and sent her angels to fill it. In this case, her angel is an owl. And now, it is mine as well.