I went inside and sipped coffee while I watched him from the window. He stayed very still. About ten minutes later he took off and swooped down into the drainage ditch and out of my view. I don't know if he caught what he was after, but each of the yards are fenced, some with privacy fencing. Most have dogs in the yards. I think he spotted something and waited for it to come out of a fenced yard where he could snatch it up without risking interference.
Being a writer who is always waiting for a favorable end result, I thought about that hawk today as I trooped, rather than swooped, out to the mailbox. Fingers crossed, hoping for good news I opened the box. Nothing. It's been four months, they said it would take four months minimum, but they also said if you don't hear anything in six months to resubmit with another SASE because it probably just got lost.
I saw a hawk having breakfast in our sugar maple yesterday morning, something fairly tiny such as a field mouse or a vole. I thought about taking a photo, but not for very long--the snow was too deep and the outside temp was –5ºF. Besides, hawk meals are a bit bloody. A couple of years ago I watched one disassemble something larger it had caught; it dined for much of the afternoon, taking the meaning of "slow food" and "locavore" to a whole new level.
ReplyDeleteLoved this nice little story about the hawk (and about waiting in general...lunch, submissions...we're all waiting on something). Patience, my friend! We're wishing you the best!
ReplyDeleteAnd if patience gets old, you can always try brownies :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beauty that hawk is—and a great teacher. :) I need to think hawk, um, I mean patience, waiting to hear on my submissions. (Though I also like Jess's idea. Brownies are always good!)
ReplyDeleteA hawk visited our garden yesterday; he swooped down, looking for sparrows and left quickly on finding none. Whenever the hawk visits I appreciate its beauty while at the same time counselling the sparrows to remain hidden in the garden shrubs.
ReplyDeleteHope you find a tasty morsel in the mail box one of these days!
I like Jess's idea! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteAnn, Christine, seeing hawks up close and personal is exciting. I didn't go out to see what he caught because of the blood, don't want to see THAT. My imagination is bad enough. Christine, the small birds set up such a caterwalling for a few seconds when they see one, birds for severl houses just seem to disappear. They are really good at hiding!
ReplyDeleteJess, Andrea,Liza, brownies are a really good idea!
He is gorgeous. I bet you'll hear soon, all the holidays were in there too. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's right, they were! Thanks, Kimberly:)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous picture. So majestic and not shy about who he is. We should be proud as writers too. :O)
ReplyDeleteGreat example of patience. I hate that it is such a vital parting of the writing game, though!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a picture. How I wish I could have got a photo of the one that came into my garden but all I got was a pile of feathers and a bit of a bill.
ReplyDeleteI was standing in my kitchen reading a newspaper when I heard the other birds making a din I didn't look up when I did and saw the pile of feathers I was so cross with myself.
Good luck with the waiting as M.B. West said, it all part of the game.
Jarmara, how disappointing! I just wish my camera had a better zoom lens. He was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDiane, writers should be proud instead of being ,like many of us, riddled with anxiety about our abilities :)
M.B., if I've learned anything from being a writer, it is definitely patience.
I know how you feel. What a great description. Patience is sometimes an unbearable virtue, but it will be worth the wait! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYour story of the hawk reminds me of a time I watched an owl that perched all day long in a tree outside our window where we were living at the time. It was so incredibly patient! As we writers have to be. I do hope for a very favorable outcome for you!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for your comment about Twitter on my post today. I don't see much point in it either. Facebook is for authors as well as family and friends. I just haven't figured out how to fully use the author page! I feel like my brain is on overload sometimes, trying to figure out all this stuff. Wish I could just write, but today it seems that all authors have to do "social media." Sigh.
Hope you're having a good Sunday!!
Hopefully your submission didn't get lost! Waiting is hard. the other day we had a huge owl on a tree branch outside. It was pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI thought the anxiety that goes with waiting would have ended with the first acceptance. Not so. With each project I submit, I'm conscious that I'm waiting the longer it takes to hear from the publisher - even if I am supposed to be working on something else.
ReplyDeleteLaura,I've never seen an owl up close and personal, but late at night I have heard the hooting of one in the trees and so has my neighbor. We've never seen it.
ReplyDeleteJ.L., I don't think the anxiety will ever go away with each submission out there. The nervousness when opening an email or the mailbox will always plague me.
Hawks must think we're silly creatures, always rushing everything. I know my dogs give me an odd look when I'm in a fluster to clean up before visitors arrive, they seem to say, 'why worry? I like it a bit messy.'
ReplyDeleteFingers staying crossed for you swift delivery of a positive response letter.
:-)
It's said that good things come to those who wait, but sometimes the waiting can be torture! Don't lose hope and keep writing. ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh, waiting is so tough, isn't it? But patience is a virtue, even if it's not easy. My fingers are crossed for you, hoping for great news.
ReplyDeleteAs for the hawk, what a beautiful picture. We live out in the country, and love viewing animals in the wild. Thanks for sharing.