demonstrative

Today we were sitting outside enjoying a late summer Saturday, downing freshly BBQ'd hamburgers and some Tuis (beer for non-NZ folks), when the strangest thing happened. A pure white dove fluttered down and landed on our sun umbrella. Then it moved to the roof where it sat for about an hour with the sun acting like a halo around it's entire body (it actually was a beautiful and magical sight). We don't get doves here, we only really get seagulls and sparrows and this bird was way out of their league. Being non-religious types we uttered the usual jokes about whether it was a sign from above and if we'd change our tune if a massive earthquake hit and we were the only ones left standing. I wanted to take a picture, but when you have a pure white dove perched on your roof, you don't get the inclination to move, lest it goes and perches elsewhere. We managed to coax it down with bread and as it scoffed it down it looked at us like 'thanks for finally realising I was hungry after spening an hour watching you eat your hamburgers'.

Although it moved amoung the seagulls it did not partake in their squabbling, in fact, I'd go as far to say it felt above the whole eating scraps off the ground thing. After a while, it flew away. Half of me wishes I did believe in signs from god and would now experience intense peace, the other half hopes that poor misguided bird finds its way back home.