Owls and I

I’ve been away from my computer for several days. Did you miss me? <grin>

I came home to piles of work and news both challenging and good. The best of the bunch is this picture. In past weeks I have given away a few of these plush snowy owls. They are Audubon branded and, when pressed, have “authentic” sound.  This one went to Linda Amirkhizi who named it Loki before I even shipped it.

I expect all recipients to name their owl and tend it carefully. I’m keeping track of these “Caroline Owls.”  I can’t be sure all future birds will be snowy but all will be owls.

How did I come to my fascination with owls? To be begin with I love all birds. They are to me a symbol of grace. I learned that when bird watching. You can’t force them to come; you have to put yourself in a state of expectation and quiet, open your eyes, and wait. The same can be said for inspiration. Writers do a lot of putting themselves in a state of expectation and waiting for inspiration.

I saw my first owl when I was around ten, walking home from school one afternoon. Two little screetches looked out at me from a hole in a tree. I was thrilled.  A fictional turning point however, was The Once and Future King.  I became enamored of Merlin’s Archimedes, the wise voice of the story. How I longed for an owl of my own! That of course, would be illegal, as well it should be, but a girl can dream. Harry Potter’s Hedwig is a marvel, but she can’t hold a candle to Archimedes.

My other favorite owl is the one associated with Athena. As mythological characters go, you can’t beat an utterly feminine woman who carries a sword, wears a  battle helmet, and yet has an owl.  My kind of girl!

Congratulations to Linda and her Loki! I hope a lot of Caroline Owls make it into the wild in coming months. If you watch, opportunities to win one will crop up now and then.