During the last three years, I’ve begun watching birds more intently. The creatures have always fascinated me, but during quarantine, I was stationary and the birds were the travelers, the ones who could take flight, lift up into the air and migrate to another continent. They were the ones who had freedom of movement, if not a loftier perspective on our world. Down below, we humans were left to deal with the mess.
I loved this story, Mary, how a book transformed a woman’s life (a book that opened doors to world culture and could, sadly, be banned today). And how you brought the button/Purple Martin story through time back to your schoolhouse, and the book, full circle.
It is so moving--and thrilling--to contemplate how intricate, elegant, and nonlinear our lives are, life is. Thank you, Mary!
This is such a great story, with so many stories inside, like a Matryoskka doll made of words.
I loved this story, Mary, how a book transformed a woman’s life (a book that opened doors to world culture and could, sadly, be banned today). And how you brought the button/Purple Martin story through time back to your schoolhouse, and the book, full circle.
Beautifully written and deeply felt! Thank you for sharing, Mary Swander!!
Mary, Any way you could track down the full name and author (compiler) of that actual book?