Fleeting Moment

For Mother’s Day this year, my daughters gave me a hummingbird feeder. I’ve never had one before, and it takes some tending, but in the weeks since, I have faithfully made a sugar water solution (1:4 ratio) and hung the feeder on the corner of our deck, changing the nectar every few days so won’t spoil, and waited.

And for many weeks, no hummingbirds came to visit. I checked migration maps. Plenty of sightings in our region. But none here at home.

That is, until a week ago Sunday. We were sitting out on the deck with family, when all of a sudden, my cousin startled. A hummingbird had just hovered by the feeder. I had my back turned, though everyone else saw and marveled. Soon, it returned, along with a second hummingbird. This time I turned in time. Tiny, jewel-toned, they hung in the air, wings a blur, then zipped away toward a high branch of a Norway maple. Miraculous.

I made certain to change the nectar that night, so it would be fresh for the next day. Sure enough, Monday morning, the gold breasted hummingbird returned for a sip. I saw it a couple of times. But neither of these tiny fliers have returned, since.

I’m not sure if it has to do with the extreme heat of recent days. I’ve changed their nectar frequently, because it can easily spoil in 90+ degree weather. Still, no hummingbirds.

I hope they return. Hummingbirds are territorial, especially the males, and they remember location of feeders. Such beautiful creatures. Even if only for a moment, so worth the wait. A stunning reminder that each moment is precious.

Evelyn Herwitz blogs weekly about living fully with chronic disease, the inside of baseballs, turtles and frogs, J.S. Bach, the meaning of life and whatever else she happens to be thinking about at livingwithscleroderma.com. Please view Privacy Policy here.

Image: Ramona Edwards