Writing with wings

Abagail Alfano lives in Pine, Louisiana–a convenient landing spot for migrating hummingbirds.  Lucky girl, about 20 of the tiny birds took a shine to her backyard.

She admired them from a distance at first, but inched closer to them every day. She bought their confidence with sugar water, familiarizing them with her presence as she replenished their feeder. On the morning pictured here, she filled a little red dish with sugar water and…

…miracle of miracles, they sipped the nectar right out of her hand!



This is what some might call a holy ghost moment–a wondrous, shivery-magic experience that occurs when we least expect it. Serendipity, when we most need it to happen.

A similar thing happened for me just last week. Not with hummingbirds, but with my writing. I’m not a fast writer, as my long-time friends already know. I labor over each and every passage, down to the tiniest jot and tittle. But last week, glory be, I had an out-of-body experience in which the words flowed straight from my heart to the page, unedited and unrestrained. When I finally looked up at the clock, I was shocked to discover that hours upon hours had vanished altogether, leaving a trail of filled pages in their wake.

And so it is that I’m holding out that cup again this morning, asking in all humbleness for a similar blessing.

Although I’ve edited it slightly, I got this story in pictures from my friend Karen, who forwarded it to me in an email. For some oddball reason, she said it reminded her of me. J Snopes verified the original story, as did Abagail herself (photos via her husband, credited at the link).

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    • I wonder how many people could hummingbirds have eaten from their hands?

      Great question! She must have a way about her that evokes trust–and invites them to play. 🙂

  3. Oh, look at those tiny, beautiful birds all over her hands–truly a moment of grace.

    I am so glad you had a knockout writing day–may that lead to many more!

  4. Wow! Very cool pictures! And so glad the writing is going just as well. I love it when it pours out like that. It usually ends up to be the best writing, too. 🙂

    • I love it when it pours out like that.

      So it’s happened to you before? Lucky girl!! This was a first (and please oh please, not the last) time it happened for me.

  5. The picture of Abigail holding the hummingbirds truly is shivery with wonder and goodness. Thank you for sharing it.

    And I’m very happy to hear you had a day when the words flowed like water, and you could just write and write and write.

    • I’m so glad Karen sent the photos to me, and that you enjoyed seeing them, too. Blessings are doubled (at the very least) when they’re shared.

  6. Anonymous

    Flowing Words

    May your words continue to flow unimpeded, like spring flood waters–plentiful and powerful, cleansing and nourishing. Write on, friend . . .

    • Re: Flowing Words

      Thank you, my dear Oasis Sister. I am grateful to you for sharing that email with me, Karen…grateful also for your words of encouragement and support. xoxo

  7. OMG, they’re so beautiful! Love hummingbirds. One time I took my parrot outside to clean his cage and a couple hummingbirds hovered close by. I think they thought he was a huge orange flower! Sunni wasn’t too happy about it.

  8. Wow! That’s just breathtaking.

    I’m so glad you had a beautiful writing day. They are few and far between for me but I remember the joy when they come.

    • They are few and far between…

      Maybe we appreciate them more, for this very reason? I am smiling at the memory, and praying for more. For you, for me, for all of us.

    • Look at how many fit on one hand!

      I know, right? They’re so very tiny, but their impact is enormous.

      Thank you so much for your good wishes!

  15. omg — I am green with envy!
    What a magical, mystical experience indeed.
    A thrilling gift from the Universe.

    And as for your writing, my dear — may you have more such blissful unedited and unrestrained periods!

    • A thrilling gift from the Universe.

      Yes, absolutely. I’m grateful that she widened the gift-giving circle by sharing the photos with us.

      Also: Thank you so much for your good wishes. Your words to God’s ear. 🙂

  17. Those pictures are amazing. How wonderful and gorgeous!!!

    I’m so glad to hear you had such an experience with your writing, my friend. I’m glad that progress is flowing. That makes me incredibly happy for you!!!

  18. Melodye, that is EXTREMELY cool. I wonder how it felt to her — those tiny wings beating so furiously fast in such close proximity…?

    As much as I hate to admit it, those photos pretty much top the ones I posted of Jeannine feeding the wild bird in our yard this past winter:

    http://peterlaird.livejournal.com/4824.html

    (But I still love her expression! — PL)

    • I wonder how it felt to her — those tiny wings beating so furiously fast in such close proximity…?

      YES! I thought about that, too. I’ve heard (and sensed) those vibrations close to my ear, but to have them land on your hand…

      I somehow missed that entry, so I’m glad you linked it here! Jeannine’s encounter with that bird is priceless, as is the expression on her face. In a word: JOY! 🙂

  19. Ahhhh…beautiful. What an experience!
    I’m so glad to hear you have a trail of filled pages from your heart! I can’t wait to read them. xo

    • Ah, Lorraine, thank you for so much for recognizing/understanding that they weren’t just word count totals…more so, they were expressions of my heart. xoxo

  21. Thanks, Anabel! Do you know what kind of hummingbirds you have in your area? They’re all beautiful in their own right, but I like visualizing the ones that visit you. 🙂

  23. :)!

    A few years ago, a bird fell into my parents backyard and I nurtured it in a soft cloth and by feeding him water via an eye dropper for some type of nourishment. The bird seemed really out of it and I really wasn’t sure it was going to make it. Being able to touch a bird and be up and close with an animal like that that usually flies away when you approach is felt like a surreal experience. A few hours later, I went out to get some water for him but the birdie must have gained enough strength to fly back into the wild.

    I never fed live birds out of my hand though – but hearing this delightful story about Abigal (Do you know her or did you just read this somewhere? It doesn’t matter where you found it as I am just curious.) gives me hope.

    It’s so funny when writer’s block can break too. Writer’s block or no, whatever it is, hopefully you’ll have more shining moments like this where your words will continue to soar!

    • What a wonderful experience you had! I imagine the memory will linger with you forever…

      I don’t know Abagail personally–her story came to me via email from a dear friend. I did, however, verify it online…go to the link at the end of my entry, and you can read more about her/this story.

      One last thing (though certainly not least): thank you so much for your good thoughts. I’m wishing you similarly shiny moments, too, my friend.

      • Of course it will! I always my long-term memory to be a strength.

        I’ll check out her story then. Thank you and thanks for your support! New entry on the way in a matter of moments, to be honest…!

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