And by these, I mean the little things.

Yesterday, I found out that a dear friend of mine had passed in an accident. This was a male friend of mine that I had known for about 12 years or so, we met online in the old chat rooms that I used to be a part of. We had traveled on two vacations together, and spoke frequently on Facebook. There was never anything more than friendship between us, but he would always joke that he had a picture of us in bed together. Because when we were in Florida, I was VERY ill, and he visited me in my hotel room, and where do you sit in a hotel room but in the bed. Believe me, the picture is not risque whatsoever, we were surrounded by other friends, and all fully clothed – but you would never know it to hear him tell the story.

Bill had a phD and was a bit of a mad scientist. That’s what I called him, at least. I used to tease him that to pick up chicks all he would need is “hey baby wanna play doctor?” He worked for the military and had a bit of a lab in his basement, and was always conjuring up strange concoctions. When he moved into a house on the bay, he was immensely happy watching and taking care of “his” ducks. And kittens! He used to tell me that he didn’t like them, but talked on and on about what they were doing, how he spoiled them, and their milestones in growing. Didn’t like them, right? ;)

Last year he fell and hit his head and suffered a brain injury. We were all very worried, with brain injuries you never know if the person that comes back will be the person you knew. But he beat it, and came back to be his usual crazy self. He was working with lots of different doctors, and waiting to be cleared to go back to work, and passed away last week.

I miss him.

Even though our relationship consisted of smaller things in recent years, those things meant a lot to me. Little things, like seeing the pictures of his ducks, or his smartass comments on my Facebook statuses. He was so supportive of everything I’ve done, and tried to talk me into having him assist at boudoir sessions. ;) Not the first attempt by men I know, but definitely the most persistent.

I really, really miss him, and those little things.

There is something small happening outside our front door right now. Something that I know Bill would like, he would most definitely comment on this post, telling me about his ducks and what they do. The little things in life are fleeting and seem inconsequential, but those are often the most loved, and missed when someone is gone. My prayer today is for peace and comfort for all of Bill’s family and friends, and that everyone is reminded how precious life is. Bill was 43 years young. Life is too short, love on your kiddos, and enjoy the little things with them. Give your loved ones your UNDIVIDED ATTENTION when they want to talk to you.

In our front yard, Colorado suburbia, we have a tree.

It’s a pretty normal tree, with beautiful pink flowers in the spring time. Look closer.

Right now, the flowers have gone. They bloomed for awhile, but now the leaves are in full bloom. And another creature has decided she likes those leaves. Look closer.

She likes them so much that she wants to raise some babies there!

There are three eggs in the nest, waiting to hatch. I walked right through the yard, brushing the tree, and Kaden told me to be careful! I was thoroughly confused, and he showed me the nest. The mama had flown away, scared, but the eggs were sitting there. New little lives, waiting to come into the world. I had been waiting for mama to come back so that I could get a photo of her, but I think the 85 pound black bird dog scared her away, imagine that. But when Kaden and I got home from school, she was there. Scared, but there.

I can imagine how ridiculous I looked, with my LONG lens on so that I didn’t have to get too close. Kaden wanted to see through it too, because it allowed him to see closer than he was allowed to go. We got one more photo before she flew away, scared again. Kaden told me that if she doesn’t come back, he will take care of the eggs until they hatch by putting them in the microwave. Somehow I don’t think that will work very well, mama might not be too happy with that.

I have probably walked past this nest a hundred times, not seeing it, it is fairly well hidden. Kaden and I marveled at what was happening in that nest. He knows that I will get just as excited as he does when we come across things like this, and can’t wait to show me things. Things that might be small – like this nest… Relatively small, but to mama, her new babies. Maybe she is a mama for the first time, we don’t know. Those little things to us might be big things to someone else.

Don’t pass up the little things. You never know when they might be big things to someone else around you.

Bill, your friendship meant the world to me and I miss you already. I wish I could show these photos to you, I know you would get a kick out of them, and Kaden’s reaction.