Sitting in the swing in the sun, have a full pack of chewing gum beside me, and a charm of American goldfinches on my bird feeders. Penelope is taking a siesta in the playpen. All is right with my world!

Just heard a loud rustle in the bushes. Was expecting the neighborhood cat to appear but it was a large Cooper’s hawk. When I had my bathroom remodeled, I had to have new water lines to the sink. The old pipes looked just like a bird perch so I stabbed them down in the ground by one of my bird baths. A Cooper’s hawk’s favorite meal is a song bird so he came to the perfect location for lunch.

He was really magnificent and perched on the pipes long enough for me to see how handsome he was. Looked just like a medieval knight, dressed in a suit of armor, going into battle. He had a regal profile, bright intelligent eyes, and a sharp pointed beak. After he flew off it took a while for the song birds to come back to the feeders.

I just realized I am happy and content sitting here in the swing. Makes me tear up to think I could find some semblance of happiness without Chief. He always sat on the double rocker while I perched on the swing. He was always asking me to identify the birds. Now I am crying, missing him, remembering all the times we sat here together. The phone pings and in an instance I’m jerked back to reality with an invitation to I visit my youngest sister-in-law and her little grandson. That ping wiped away my tears.

The power of human connection is such a wonderful thing. It gives you a sense of belonging. Makes you feel loved and needed. Human connection is a bond between people that helps us physically and emotionally. But human connections need to be nurtured. Research shows human connections help us live longer, healthier lives. Human connection gives you a sense of belonging. Social media has increased loneliness. You can still be lonely when you’re surrounded by loved ones. I read some where that a lack of human connection was found to be more harmful than obesity or smoking.

Relationships with family and friends need to be nurtured. A desire to be loved and feel valued is written in our DNA. Even a newborn baby will wrap its fingers around your hand seeking that human connection.