Nest

Among my things collected from jaunts outdoors, there is a bird’s nest in a shadow box. At first it looks like a wild, haphazard thing. On closer examination you can see the bird’s engineering skill. Humans have to be taught to tie their shoelaces but birds simply know how to build a nest. Extraordinary. A close friend moved recently. Setting up house can be as much of a psychological journey as it is a physical one. Moving turns your life upside down even when it’s a move you want. And as anyone who has moved knows, “home” is something that is realized over time. Whenever faced with a goal that seems insurmountable, I am reminded of a phrase my French teacher, Professor Tiller, taught me: “Petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid.” Little by little, the bird builds its nest.