Loved & Locked with Luna

As I was visiting my Grandma with breast cancer, 300 miles away from my home, we sit in her trailer outside of the hospital talking about life. We spoke of past resentments and tribulations, I spoke of my sexuality with her for the first time, and she relayed the best and worst parts of going through a treatment such as this. I listen to her in depth as my Grandpa drifts asleep.

My Grandma asks loudly "What should we do today, we only have one day, so we gotta do what we can!" I reply wearily as I don't know much of the area, "I'm not sure Grandma, what is there to do?"

My Grandpa chimes in, and in Bend, Oregon the High Desert Museum just outside of town was a suggestion he had muddled. He cannot walk but he thought it would be fun we go together. They possess well taken care of animals as well as artifacts saved of the natives. It was a great idea, but sounded humdrum to me, old saw mills and cabins, with a couple turtles here and there, I love history, but, I had just flown over there, worked 9 hours previously in the day and drove to get where I was. But whatever was going to be able to get me some more time with them, I would do. I agreed and drove my Grandma out to the hidden shrouded museum. I was not expecting much. There were flower exhibits and things of that nature. The museum hadn't been a big impact on my list on the visit. Until we got to the Birds of Prey Sanctuary, this particular Great Horned Owl, was in there because she imprinted on humans, and constantly wanted to be around them. I've never witnessed an owl so close before, I was nervous. Owls, it seems, carry an aura with them abundant with curiosity, wisdom, and final judgements are transmitted through their eyes, so divine with color.

She had her head turned all the way around, I made a call, of which all I know what to do is make a high pitch squeak at animals and see if they respond too it. So I did. She turned her head slowly around and as I put up my camera, there they are. Bright, 70's pastel yellow eyes, right through the fence ring. They had smacked there beak together, like they just finished a delicious appetizer, rolled their eyes and turned back. My judgement was not satisfactory! The sass I had received was at a maximum.

I was definitely concerned, the plaque said "Luna." I wanted to know that I was accepted by this magical raptor-like creature. I squeaked again, pushing air in-between my upper and bottom lip and let it out, in another high pitch, a squeak. This time asking Luna by name, "Hey Luna, are you okay? I hope I'm not bothering you. It's great to meet you." At that time her head turns again towards me, we keep eye contact for approximately 10-12 seconds, and as she turned her head back around after blinking once. The only thing I knew at that point, was that I have a lot to learn. I had lost touch with what I once believed I wanted to be a part of. The outdoors, nature, patience, quiet. The city had taken a lot away from me, into materialism and bigger is better, and if it isn't bigger, its cheap, and if it's cheap I don't want it. I know I had changed a lot since moving away from my small town life growing up. But a moment with this owl had me question every life decision I had made. Weeks later, I am now planning on purchasing a home in my hometown in the next couple years, and settling in the environment I fell in with as a child.

Thank you Luna, for letting me know I still have a lot to learn.