FEEL THE LOVE

TIFERET Haiku

Doves nesting on eggs

in my LA porch planter

always feel the LOVE

- Joy Krauthammer

PS

Can I?

FEEL THE LOVE

Ms. Dove (or is it Mr. Dove?) Nesting
- Joy Krauthammer

While I went to Maryland for a cousin's Bat Mitzvah the day after the doves began to build their nest in my hanging succulent planter, the doves in my absence continued to nest; building and laying their two eggs in Northridge, CA. I was some what happy that they would have peace without my comings and goings which may disturb them.

Late at night during a long lasting lightening storm, following the east coast day-long simcha festivities, and driving back with family to my hotel-- at a gas station I saw the long gasoline truck with statement, FEEL THE LOVE. (see photo) I emerged from the car and walked over alone to the truck at furthest end of gas station, and with camera, shot, FEEL THE LOVE. This was clearly the day's expression with mishpucha/family I had not seen for a long time.

I felt compassion and love for the female dove who tenderly nested in night time, and for the male who nested during day time. I didn't realize that there were both partners separately nesting, until I read Wikipedia! They had grown accustomed to me, and I felt protective of them.

I was concerned when I returned from the east coast trip because I was leaving again in a few days, as I did, for my Jewish spiritual international gathering-- the Aleph Renewal Kallah. The doves were nesting and I told the young man (not yet a teen) caring for my garden, not to water in that hanging planter.  (I had left water nearby for birds' drinking and bathing.) I was so looking forward to the future feeding little babies. With my calculating the days, I was sad that I'd be missing their breaking through the shells and their birth.  I learned that incubation to hatching is two weeks, and feeding, maturing is also two weeks. I didn't know what day the eggs were laid.

While at Kallah in a movement class with Rabbi Diane Elliot, we participants were invited to become animals. This was easy for me. I became a nesting mom bird over two eggs, and I also became the eggs. We were then asked to paint our shape-shifting being. With Crayolas, I painted Ms. Dove; the me I had become. I also became a baby birdie being fed by mom bird. I liked my painting done from memory (even if not purely accurate) which you can see here, and joyfully shared it with classmates. The red splashes in background are the rose bushes* in my garden. During incubation time, I watched Ms. Dove and Mr. Dove together sit on the ground for a few hours by the rose bushes in their shade, in the hot 100* heat of the day.


Upon my return, my 88 year old wise mentor, Edith, has advised me to share in the story, my reality of sadness, because I had not. The message I did not want to share is that-- I returned home to an 'empty nest'.

Nest was not completely empty because there was one empty egg shell in halves. I have heard more of the sad story from a neighbor. I found the other empty egg half shell further out in the garden. With love and care and sadness, I buried the empty shells in my garden.

May we be blessed (as my Jerusalem rebbe Yosef Ben Shlomo HaKohen reminds me) that creatures in the messianic age: "Live together, the wolf with the sheep, and the leopard will lie down with the kid; and a calf, a lion whelp and a fatling together, and a young child will lead them." (Isaiah 11:6)

I so much wanted to share a happy ending with you, too.
I have since heard each day, one dove cooing on my roof, on the top of the antenna.
Another neighbor sent me a sweet photo of two current doves in her eaves, nesting. Their corner location looks identical to the one in the lower left hand corner of my photo collage below where the doves had been scouting for their home. Eaves look much safer, and not visible to the outside predatory world. May the family of doves be protected.

Sadness

LOVE
© Joy Krauthammer

Photos and collage by Joy Krauthammer ©

*I planted the rose bushes for my husband's, z'l, pleasure
when he was paralyzed at home, and could spend a short time in the garden.
.