On a wing and a prayer

One of the things Hulk&Baby had in common before they met is an interest in owls. Hulk's mother loved owls. Baby wears an angry owl tee (when she wishes she had talons of her own), or sometimes a blue&white one around her neck that belonged to her Grandmaman.

It's probably fair to say that Hulk's mother more than loved owls; she knew them. She was a knower, generally, and one of the things she knew was owls. Her sense of humor was sly, like the owl, and her sight was far reaching and broad. A lifetime of spiritual practice, talking to angels and seeing ghosts likely gave her respect and a feeling of kinship for these magical, winged beasts with 360 degree rotational sight. The implications of the limitless capacities of the eye (to say nothing of the capacities of the I) would surely have made Hulk's Momma smile. Why, exactly they became her guides, though, Hulk isn't sure. Cap'n probably knows...

Today's story is about what "Operation: Freedom" should look like in the papers, according to Hulk&Baby and their comrades on the city bus.

Today, Hulk&Baby freed an owl from a dusty, ol' bookstore. Then they took the owl to lunch in a vegetarian restaurant. Hulk wasn't sure, but he thought he saw the owl rolling its eyes, looking a bit peeved. Baby tried to feed the owl some seaweed salad but, no go. Hulk fed the owl a can of tuna when they all got home and that seemed to be an improvement. Hulk&Baby's kitchen mouse, Sledgehammer, ought to be worried right about now

This all began when Hulk&Baby accidentally-on-purpose visited the owl about a month ago, and the owl had something to say. It cooed--didn't hoot--it cooed "Take me with you."

The problem was the keeper of the store had designs of his own. He wasn't there at first visit but store-lady said it was not likely he would release Owl to others. Hulk mentioned all of this to Cap'n one time and Cap'n reminded him that Momma had known the book keeper folks and this fact might prove persuasive. It did.

Today, the owl was waiting, wearing its Sunday feathers, as though it knew today was The Day.
Owl had been perched in the bookstore since immigrating from Thailand, and the owner was almost as attached as Hulk&Baby. After big smiles and a Momma story that was genuinely disarming, Bookman had to let go. He teared up a bit, though, and Hulk&Baby promised to be good owl keepers and to send pictures and keep Owl in touch.

But what to do with an owl? After lunch, that is. Well, name it, of course. The owl cooed "Call me Happen." They will, knowing that when Happen becomes a teenager (which in owl years will come who-knows-when) , she may want to change her name. But for now, she's Happen.

Happen, because she does, see. And things do, generally, happen, when we all keep our eyes open to the miracles. Right now the miracles look like a might-as-well-be-full, yellow moon looming low over the skyline, speaking possibility, change and wonder to everyone paying attention.

Today was a good day, the only day, for a magic owl named Happen to wander into Hulk&Baby's life and remind them to keep one eye upturned toward heaven. Momma was always good for that reminder, she would be a happy lady tonight.

-n&c-