One bright and sunny day probably early 1970s in southside St. Petersburg, Florida I was about to hang up the laundry I just finished but a Mama bird had other ideas. You see she had little ones in a nest in a tree in our back yard. She was swooping down coming too close for comfort to my head. I went back into the house and Joann and Becky had been watching from the sliding glass door.  They thought this was the greatest thing they had ever seen Mom being attached by a Mama bird.Â
Your wondering why I did not put the clothes in the Dryer. I did not have one, did not want one. I had never lived where you could hang out the wash so when I finally moved where you could I took advantage of the opportunity. Besides it was a great way to get a tan.Â
Well, so what to do. The girls had the answer. They went and got their tennis racquets and the three of us went to the clothes line and when the Mama bird came after me they would wave their racquets and chase her away. The clothes all hung up we went back into the house. We watched the bird as she continued to man the back yard. I had never seen a bird like this she was black with red wings. I hated to but I asked the girls what kind of a bird was that.  Becky spoke up and said "it's a Red Winged Black Bird Mom".  I, of course, thought she was just kidding but turns out she wasn't. I had never heard of a Red Wing Black Bird. Â
Not long after that I received a Clothes Dryer. It appeared in my laundry room one day. I still hung out the towels and sheets but our clothes went into the dryer because that hot sun faded colors.Â
Joann hangs out clothes here weather permitting.  She has a Dryer.   Maybe if the Deer and the Bear come around when she is hanging clothes she too will use her Dryer.
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Love and prayers from here to thereÂ
