The Crow

Photo Credit: Niklas Hamann

“When you go out of your comfort zone and it works there’s nothing more satisfying.” ~ Kristen Wiig

In my blog posts this August I’m exploring stepping, leaping and hurling yourself outside your comfort zone. I’ll be sharing stories from my life as well as a few flash fiction posts courtesy of characters in my novels. I’m kicking the series off today with a true story about a small step I recently took out of my comfort zone.

The story unfolded two weeks ago. It was the day of my final radiation treatment, and I wasn’t feeling very perky, so I’d given myself permission to not only stay in my comfort zone, but take an easy, low-production day. I was sitting at my desk in my office trying to focus on writing, distracted by the stuffy humid heat and my own malaise. After checking the air quality on my weather app I decided to open the window a crack. I spotted a large, black, unfamiliar lump in our front yard. What was it? A garbage bag? A discarded sweater? Then it moved.

I couldn’t make out from the third floor window what the sizable creature was, but I suspected it was one of the crows I’d heard cawing for several weeks. I went to a second level window to investigate and sure enough, a beak emerged from where it had been tucked under her wing. She moved slowly, with clear difficulty, closer to the fence and sat there looking so helpless and forlorn, I felt my heart constrict. What to do?

I write often of the healing vibes of nature, so, dear reader, you may think the answer obvious. Go help her. Except that my comfort zone when interacting with nature is quite a tiny, tidy space. While I love to hear birds chirping (of which crows do not qualify), watch sunsets from backyard recliners, and smell the sweet fragrance of flowers, I don’t like wild things in my space.

When it comes to interactions with nature’s diverse creatures, mine border between slight anxiety and paralyzing fear. Snakes, spiders, scorpions and sharks fall into the latter category. Crows are in the first. But I’m not familiar with them and I know from my limited experiences with hurt animals that they can be aggressive due to their own fears. So again, what to do?

I googled wild animal services in Winnipeg. I called Prairie Wildlife but it went straight to voicemail. I called 311 (our local directory service) and was told to call Wildlife Haven. I was successful in getting through to a person, and when I explained the situation, I was told they didn’t have enough resources to send someone out to collect the crow, that I had to do it myself.

“Find a pillowcase or old sheet and throw it over the crow, then pick it up and put it in a cardboard box with holes punched in the sides and drive it to one of our 24-hour veterinary hospitals.” Pick it up? No way was I stepping that far out of my comfort zone. But my compassion ruled over my fear and I convinced Mister (equally, if not more uncomfortable) that we could do this.

We found an old packing box in the basement and Mister punched holes in the sides. It had some brown paper packing material inside, and in the absence of an old sheet or pillowcase, we decided it would do. Mister drove the car around front and parked near our gate. Garden gloves on for protection, broom in hand, Mister set the box near the now-watchful crow. She tried to hop onto the planter to escape, but her injury had her fall back to the ground. With a gentle nudge, Mister slid her into the box, quickly tipped it, and I closed the lid. I held it closed, he taped it shut, then lifted her easily (much lighter than he’d thought) into the hatch of our car.

She behaved remarkably well on the twenty-minute drive to the veterinary hospital. No cawing or squawking, just a bit of flapping, rustling the paper. We were greeted with friendly smiles, given a form to sign, and were assured the crow would receive whatever care the doctor on call would be able to provide. On the drive back home, I felt a satisfying feeling akin to pride in a job well done. We’d stepped out of our comfort zones and it wasn’t as hard or scary as either of us had imagined. Turns out we’re more capable to handle a hurt crow than we thought.

I wonder, what other fears I might overcome, if I could always access my courage and resolve? I wonder, dear reader, what fears have kept you from being fully engaged, willing to take risks, and be vulnerable? We all are given opportunities at every turn to examine our beliefs, stories and expectations, of what we can and can’t do. I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. You might not be rewarded with a feeling of satisfaction, but you will grow from it.

COMING UP…

Books & Projects:

·      All four of my books are available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find them at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.

·      I am pursuing representation from a traditional publisher for my fifth literary fiction, a psychological drama that explores the complexities of mental illness and trauma. Stay in touch by signing up for my blog or following me on social media to find out when it will be published.

Reviews & Interviews:

·      You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.

Events:

·      There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.

YouTube Channel:

·      Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer.

·      Watch The Holding trailer.

·      Watch The Healing trailer.