Good grief! It slapped me up the side of my head last month and I didn't even notice. The bird nest. I so so enthralled by the bird nest. Watching the Mother bird sit for days and days on that nest of eggs on my deck. Leaving her fresh water and bird food and looking for her each day. I felt nurturing in some sort of 'we're in this together' thing as I do with most mother animals.

Soon came the sound of baby birds chirping loudly, hungrily. How lovely that new life sound is and how fragile they must be. Chirp, chirp. "Feed me, feed me", they seemed to say. And then one day.... silence. The baby birds were nourished enough to leave on their own. Mother bird's job was through and all that's left behind now is an empty nest. I still came out and looked for them every day for a week. I knew the drill. But I still looked.

We can learn so much from the signs and signals when we listen to all that's around us. I tell everyone that. I didn't take my own advice this time.

Skyler is going for her first job interview this week. It's at a local convenience store with a Subway sandwich shop in it. The position is for a sandwich maker. At 15 years old, she can only work 20 hours a week. So we'll see what happens.

I'm so fortunate to have had her. My son was 14 when she was born, I was on marriage #2. My husband was 41 and never had any children, so it was like starting over in many ways. Or a second chance to right some wrongs. To be a straight, sober mother. An attentive, clear-headed mother.

She's on her way soon. To her own life that won't include me. In many ways it doesn't include me now. Can I fix you some scrambled eggs? Do you want me to hem that skirt? I know the drill. But I still hope my nest doesn't become empty too soon.