5/1: like a gift

Our neighbor, who has lived on the ridge for decades, remembers a time when the woods here were filled with whippoorwills. We heard one last May and were amazed at its song. I thought it might be the only one I'd ever hear. Today I heard another one: Chris called to me as I was in my home office so that I could come listen at the window. Even amid the rain the bird was giving out its distinctive call. It seems so special to hear it, and I'm grateful to Chris for letting me know about it--if he hadn't told me, its wondrousness would still have been there, but I would have missed it.