Mourning Dove

There's a little dove that built a nest in the parking ramp where I work. Every day I drove by her and she cocked her head at me, looking sidelong for signs of danger. Her nest was tucked under a little metal wire and it looked as cozy as a concrete haven six stories above downtown could be.

When I'd walk to the elevator I pass a little closer to get a look. I knew she must be sitting on eggs, given that she was there every day when I came to work and when I left.

Yesterday, two eggs, one perfectly constructed nest. No mama bird. I thought, well, maybe she's gotta go get food, but I felt that uneasy roil in my stomach. Left work: two eggs, perfectly constructed nest, no mama.

Today, more of the same. I wonder what happened to mama bird. Is she hurt? Dead? Did she abandon the nest? Did some dumb human touch those eggs and drive mama away with their human smell?

I know the world probably doesn't need another mourning dove. But I do wonder what drove mama from the nest. I felt tears prick the backs of my eyes for those two perfectly round, white eggs.


Wow. So that's the longest break I've ever taken, I think and it's not like I made a Jay-Z-like comeback. Things continue to be chaotic. There are a lot of changes coming down the pike (all good, and no, not a baby) and both the willi and the kat are just barely keeping our heads above water. I promise more will be revealed soon.