HOLWhy Postscript

Hummingbird is my Maternal Grandmother - far from perfect, she struggled with many of the lessons that she ended up teaching me. She was a loyal and devoted matriarch but, she could be stubborn, judgmental, and skeptical of things she was not familiar with.

She continued to challenge her own notions of what was good and right and it was through this process that she continued to grow as a person until her dying day.

Her last words to me were "I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up." and "I love you."
And that may quite possibly be the most important lessons she taught me.

Hummingbird, Owl, Lark . . . Why?

Hummingbird passed through to the other side recently. She was very busy her whole life, never  bothering to slow her pace, as that is not the nature of Hummingbird. Hummingbird was so beautiful. Although she was always working on something - doing, doing, doing - not one person failed to see how beautiful she was. 

I am part Hummingbird. Just enough, that I could fly beside her during her daily rituals and responsibilities from time to time and ask her questions about what it was like to be Hummingbird. She said once, "I am not all I appear to be. You see, I married Lark and was adopted by Owl.  They taught me much. Lark, taught me to listen to life's song and to be more light-hearted and playful. This is how I learned to laugh more and let go of things I cannot control. Owl loved me unconditionally and was confident in herself and her abilities. She showed me how strong I could be and the importance of family. She also helped me to embrace my own curiosities and strengths which has served me well."

I have asked Hummingbird "Why. . . ?" so many times. She said that we should do our best to accept the things we do not understand and have faith that although reasons are beyond our knowing, that they exist and may become clear to us later. She showed me that miracles and magic are about letting go and taking life for what it is. She said that she struggled with these things too. She shared with me that she found comfort in stories full of wonder and magic. She prayed for patience and guidance and found it in places and people she loved. She said that she was still learning, every day. She said that her children and her grandchildren were her most precious treasures - as they challenged her and taught her most about love, life, and faith. 

Hummingbird is still very busy.  If you look, perhaps you will catch a glimpse of her today.