Giving Back

  True friends are just that...true.  They stand by you when things look bad, they help in any way and they give back kindness where kindness was shown.  In this crazy old world, a person is lucky to have a few of folks who truly care.  Sure, there are tons of "fair-weather friends" but barely a handful that will help a person weather the storms.  I am finding that most of my so-called friends are more the sunny type who say they will do anything to help but rarely show up when needed.  No problem.  If there is one thing that I can say Pop instilled in me, it is the ability to do for myself.  It is hard to ask for help so I usually do not.  That is not to say that the occasional true friend that offers a hand is not appreciated, it is just far easier to do things myself than to bend and ask.  I would rather be on the other side of the helping hand. Then, again, there are those that give back more than they received.  Folks like that are a rare commodity and should be treasured.  I am, indeed, blessed with my "handful" of those!  Folks like that give until there is just no more to be given.  

  Sometimes, those returning with a gift in hand are not even humans.  I have often stated that I have more critter friends than human.  We just seem to get along a lot better.  A mutual respect between the Bayou's critters and me has grown to a point that we share and share alike.  If an animal needs shelter or food, it is soon supplied in some form.  They return the favor by merely allowing me to photograph them.  Most show no fear of me as they remember the handouts and appreciate them.  Then, there was today....a gift in return for kindness shown.

  When the old dog, Mr. PJ and I finally made it to the pier between the rainstorms today,  dozens of birds had taken refuge there.  Pelicans, cormorants,  gulls, herons all rested their weary wings.  All of these feast upon fish, yet, there in middle of all of them was a fine mullet.  When I eased my way into the midst of the birds, they seemed to eye my reaction to finding the fish.  Any one of these fine feathered friends could have snatched that fish at any given moment but it almost seemed as if they had left it there for me.  Hmmm?  Was I reading far too much into this coincidence?  Probably....but you have to admit it was a tad unusual of a find.  

  Regardless of whether the birds had intentionally left the fish for me or if, by some quirky accident, they overlooked a fish in their midst, I intend on looking at it as friends helping friends. No, I did not keep the fish.  (I do not have a penchant for eating things that I find already dead.)  I did, however, share it back with my feathered friends.  The good-sized mullet was cut in chunks and doled out to each of the birds.  This they accepted.  We had a lovely picnic before the rains set in again and Mr. PJ and I had to race back up to the Little Bayou House...bit I did so with a smile on my face.