Shelter in Place, San Francisco, March 17, 2021
We first became acquainted with this red tailed hawk when, as a juvenile, he flew head-on into our garage door years ago, before I moved out here full time. Thankfully, the bird recovered, and now full-grown, he sometimes sits high atop the redwood tree in the far corner of what is now my block, my home. From some 60’ up, the hawk must have a splendid view of nearly the entire city and across the bay to Oakland. With his keen eyesight, too, he surely tracks the cats, moles, mice, and squirrels below him. Yesterday, accompanied and unperturbed by a flank of scolding crows, the hawk soared to his perch and stayed there as we entertained a vaccinated visitor out on the deck.
I’m trying to temper my excitement about the freedom that our vaccinations may or may not bring on what my journal tells me is the 365th day of this long journey. One year. It seems there are enough variables and hurdles to warrant caution over the next few months and weeks. But oh, how I reveled yesterday in the simple luxury of a masked friend’s hug - the very first one since the quarantine began. And as we sat together catching up, it was hard not to feel - much like our friend who watched us from his perch high in the redwood - simply on top of the world.