A Further Word From Our Sponsor

 

Ralph himself is notoriously hard to catch on camera!

💚

            Maeve was deep in thought. You could tell by the way she marched back and forth on one of those logs by the fire circle. Had she been a bookish matron, she would have had her hands clasped behind her back as she paced and a thoughtful wrinkle on her brow.
            She sighed, looked up, and her face brightened. Hard to see on a Raven, but Maeve is a very expressive Raven. She saw Ralph coming to take a seat and warm his toes by the fire.
            “Hey, Boss, people are saying some very nice things about you out there,” commented she.
            “Really?” This intrigued Ralph, of course. “Like what kind of things,” said he.
            “Mostly about the ideal type of life you live here in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. They mention gentle humor and philosophical musings, if I remember correctly,” Maeve said.
            “I do have a lot of time to think about stuff,” said Ralph. “It helps to have time to think about stuff. It’s a matter of perspective!”
            “It’s a marvel to human people that you have this wonderful life in the forest, that all things are provided by the Maker, and you don’t need to toil your life away,” said Maeve," you know, like many of them do.”
            “Who are these people, Maeve? Where are they?” asked Ralph.
            His toes were getting a little warm. So he pulled them back from the fire and out of Ramona’s way, since she was busy with something in her large soup pot that involved a lot of onions and herbs and turkey.
            “Oh, you know. They’re around, Ralph. I read stuff when I get a peek at a screen.”
            “Blackleg, you amaze me!” laughed Ralph. “What screen do you see?”
            “Only one, Boss. Millicent lets me read over her shoulder sometimes, especially if it’s a story about out here or you or Ramona or the kids.”
            “You are a mystery to me, Maeve,” said Ralph. “I didn’t know you could read.”
            “Millicent kinda helped me.” She looked a bit shy then, and ducked her head.
            “I have a question” said Maeve. “Me and the people want to know what the secret is. Why are you pleased with everything? How does that work? It’s mystery to many souls on this spinning mote.
            “Do you have anything to say? Is it a choice you have made, or a special gift, Ralph?”
            Ramona stood up straight, listening to the conversation. It almost seemed like she was about to speak. But she waited, listening.
            “Well, Birdie dear, I don’t want to mislead or upset anyone. You know that song? “Love and only love…”?
            “I think maybe at first it’s a decision. I will look upon each unfolding in my life as a gift. I will try to discern its inherent goodness. That trains the mind, I think, to be a better receiver. Soon blessings are everywhere! I know that sounds a little woo woo, Maeve. I don’t know what else to say.”
            “It takes a bent towards humor too,” said Ramona. “You have to be able to laugh.” She looked from Raven to Ralph and back again. “One of the first things I loved about Ralph was his laughter, and that he wasn’t mean! That too! I used to hear him laughing before I knew him.”
            “Oh, did you?” laughed Ralph. “I wondered!”
            He gave Ramona a little wink.
            “So, the old saying that you’ll find what you look for is right,” said Maeve.
            “That must be it,” said Ralph. “What a fine summation, my dear Birdie! What an erudite old fowl you are!”
            Now, not even the most expressive of Ravens can blush, but Maeve was very pleased to have proved her worth.
            She flew away to her nest happily, feeling the wind lifting her, and the last of the evening sunshine warming her black feathers.