What Do you get when you throw water at a baby owl? A moist owlet

When I think of how precious and fragile our lives really are, I think about how I will die. Will I alone? Or in my sleep? I don’t care to think of all the possibilities thank you very much, although I wouldn’t mind a heads up as too where and when.

That way I can be sure to dress for the occasion. Haha just kidding. Sorta.

Ever since I was in grade school and read, Farley Mowatts, “I Heard the Owl Call My Name,” I am always on my highest alert whenever I see an owl. Wise move, I think anyways. So far so good and with a lot of luck, considering that I lived in Moose Jaw, Sk. Canada for 10 years, a hoot in itself as its home to Al Capones famous underground tunnels.

Moose Jaw is also the home of the Burrowing Owls. They have made their homes on a stretch of land on the edge of the city, prompting its leaders to designate that land as protected for these little guys. Their own safe habitat.

I now live 46 minutes away in the Queen City called Regina and morbidly dubbed, in my opinion, “Pile o bones.” Sic

Ironically enough, I live a short walk down the street from a enormous mirror creation, a sculpter designed to depict our “Pile o Bones, by a local artist. It contains large, long, rectangular shaped mirrors that have been set up strategically to look like a rib cage laying on the ground. I have mixed feelings about this.

I also live at the end of the same street that one of the major hospitals is on as well. Actually, now that I think of it, if I were to make a 90 degree angle with my temporary home being point B from said hospital as Point A (well as straight lines as can be expected) you’d find the other hospital. Unfortunately, if your in a vehicle en route in great haste, the one way street signs forbid you to travel from A to B to the closer hospital, so your forced to drive to the fastest and most direct street, which is ultimately closest to one of the doors to the back of the hospital anyways and access to the E.R.

This is where irony at its finest comes into play…uh…again.

This scenic route takes us past the museum, one of Reginas pride and joy landmarks, which has a beautiful owl carved in rock amongst the other animal carvings which is found on the outer border just below the roof.

The museum is set by the beautiful Wascana Lake complete with around the perimeter of the waters edge, walking/biking paths. It shares this park with the legislative building, the Dragon Boats Club, Willow Island (Fireworks central) and The Saskatchewan Science Center, where once inside will bring you to their awesome exhibit's including their “Real Alive Snowy Owls” habitat.

So like I said, I’m not doing to badly considering Owls are inescapable on a daily basis, if you believe in such folklore, which I obviously must. Let’s not forget my Ty baby owl additions. I have 4.

It’s as weird as when I first found out about Corona Virus, after leaving a pub where Corina Import Beer was the afternoons happy hour deal, to sit on the LRT in Edmonton, AB. at the Corina Station, chatting with a guy who was sneaking sips of the Corona he managed to slip out of the pub and onto the train. Tsk.

Anyways, with all these tell take signs, and foreshadowed indications, my mind, like any normal superstitious person, automatically thinks back to the story.

In “I heard the Owl call my Name” the owl was someone’s sign that death was upon them, like the grim reaper. “Whooo?”Who0000?” The soul collector if your not familiar. ( My weak attempt at pun intended) The Grin Reaper is the skeleton that stands in a boat with a lantern and a sickle. He expects money in exchange for a ride across the dark, murky, black water, through a fog you could cut through with a knife. Something like that anyways. He’s the same entity that comes to a persons death to collect the soul and bring it to the devine heavenly gates, happy hunting grounds, 1000 virgins,or, if it’s to be your fate, fire and brin stone. My point is that it’s your guide to whatever you believe happens after we expire.

.It is no longer a surprise when I do hear the widely recognized call of this night glider. But to this day my head spins right around seeking it out. Well as far as my neck allows.

My job brings me through the night into dawn many, many nights of the year. This makes me a “Night Owl.” Overkill? Haha.

Now I know that some believe owls to be the bringer of bad news, but I am wondering what other symbolic animals or signs are believed to carry the weight. So I am researching so I can answer this for the next story. Other”wise” this will be a much much longer read indeed.