Time is Fleeting...Wear Purple Now

~ turkey vulture or buzzard ~

"Time is fleeting and I'm not waiting to wear purple

Or red or kiwi or orange or magenta or any other color

I'll spend my time sitting under the sunflowers while 

the mares snuffle my hair and kittens play in my lap

Today I'll take my knitting to the pasture and 

chance a wet bottom when I sit on the ground

Samuel and Carly will nuzzle my pockets for treats of corn 

while the other sheep bleat at their boldness

My needles will lie quietly as I watch birds float 

on unseen columns of wind

The barn swallows and goldfinches and robins and 

even the buzzards will bring me joy on their outstretched wings

Tonight at midnight the dogs and I will walk in the pasture

I'll whisper secrets to the horses and sheep

I'll look for falling stars and the big and little dipper and will nail Orion's belt with the north star

I'll drink good wine and strong beer and sweet water

I'll eat chocolate for breakfast and pastry for lunch

mix cream in my flavored coffee and turn up my nose at 

powdered milk and ill mannered people

Tomorrow I'll give compliments to perfect strangers and 

speak to people on the street just to watch their reactions 

as I grin at my silly self

I've worn hats for over thirty years and see no need to stop

I'll not waste happiness on tomorrow but spend it willy nilly today

Time is fleeting and I'm wearing purple now."

Sandra Bennett, copyright 2004 and first published June 20, 2005 and here, May 21, 2009.

As you can see, I wrote this poem in 2004 and it seems donkey's years ago! My point is, don't wait. Don't wait for "someday" or "when I have time" or "when I retire" or "when I don't have anything else to do". That day will never come, I promise you and, in the meantime, life is fleeting. With each and ever breath we're getting closer to our end and happiness, joy, contentment, peace, satisfaction, love, life can't wait. It won't wait so you might as well jump on the bandwagon and make a joyful noise.

Turkey vultures are a common warm weather sight around here. In the winter, I think the scavengers are foxes, coyotes, bobcats and the like. They are the Hoovers of the animal world and do road kill clean up and, I think, are sorely under-appreciated by a lot of folks. 

While perched, they like to steady their balance by outstretching their wings and, in the early mornings, they hold their wings thusly in order to dry the dew from their bodies.

Even though they have one of the most detestable jobs on the planet, I find them beautiful. They soar on the wind thermals but aren't as graceful when they fly and smaller birds torment them by chasing them around the sky. It's truly comical.

I always honk my horn when I come upon one in the road. I hate to disturb someone when they're working and, even worse, hate to kill something. I'll invite gents here to shoot groundhogs all day long but I'll go out of my way not to kill one with the car. 
Yeah, I know, it makes no sense a'tall.

The day is wearing thin and the car is packed with my butter churning equipment. Soon, I need to grab a few ice packs, the camera and a few other dribs and drabs and skeedaddle out of here. When I get home tomorrow afternoon, I'll make some buttermilk cat head biscuits, get out the home made 'lasses and serve it all with fresh churned butter. If I remember, I'll make some fresh cottage cheese as well. Don't you know I'll have more "friends" than Warren Buffet tomorrow!

Blessings ~ turkey vultures or buzzards ~ home churned fresh butter ~ buttermilk ~ cottage cheese ~ wearing purple now ~ life ~