For The Love of Mary

Hi Everyone,

I realize it has been a while since I have been in touch and for the most part no news is good news. There hasn't been anything medical to report. I will have scans done & tests taken at the end of April and once again what we do next will depend on the results. The best I can say is stayed tuned.

Well, I said I wanted to have fun this year but what took place on March 21st was beyond my wildest imagination. I keep thinking if I let it digest I will better be able to describe how I felt about my experience. Nothing brilliant has occurred to me so I am just going to have to do my best.

Meet Freedom and Jeff Guidry. Theirs is a remarkable story of healing. I won't tell you anymore but to google Jeff Guidry and Freedom and read a small part of their story. Jeff has a new book being released in May by Harper Collins called "An Eagle named Freedom".

I obviously had the distinct pleasure of meeting Jeff and Freedom. It was a day I will never forget. Being in the presence of this magnificent creature and her loving handler was a deeply moving experience. Jeff went and got her and brought her to us standing 10 -15 feet away. He told us she was "a little squirrelly today" being spring and all. She was squawking and flapping her wings. Jeff said to me "come on over here Mary". "You need to come into her space." I walked over and stood beside them. Oh my gosh I am standing INCHES from a Bald Eagle. She was immediately still and leaned into Jeff a bit all the while giving me a good look over. I was giving her a good look over to because she was so incredibly beautiful that I was awestruck. I have no idea how long we stood there. I could have stayed forever. My Jeff was there taking lots of picture along with the wonderful people (Drew & Brenda) responsible for us meeting Jeff and Freedom. Everyone was visiting but I have no recall of what was said.
Then much to my surprise Jeff Guidry handed me a glove and said put this on. No, No way. I am going to get to hold this stunning animal? It NEVER crossed my mind that that would be a possibility. Jeff said she wouldn't always do it but we could try. Freedom got on my arm. She got on my arm and immediately put her right wing around me! She left her wing around me the entire time I was holding her. Iwas holding a Bald Eagle who had come back from deaths door. I really can not begin to describe how it felt. The air around me, her, was perfectly still and remarkably peaceful. There was this fabulous peace. I have never before felt this way. All I could do was look at her. She has brilliant yellow circles around the outer part of her eyes that were the same color as her beak. The feathers between her beak and eyes look soft and wispy. Her head was as white as white can be. Though she can't fly she feels strong and confident. She ruffled her head feathers for me and puffed up her chest. I told her how beautiful she was. She seems to know!
As she stood on my arm she started turning toward me to the point I was backing away because I didn't want to startle her by talking to loud or laughing. Freedom continued to pursue me. A few of the pictures show her stretching her neck to come closer to my face. Jeff said "she likes you. She won't let just anyone hold her." I asked if I could touch her. Jeff said "put your nose on her beak". Every neuron in my body fired at the same time. I could hardly believe what he just said. I put my nose on Freedom's beak and I cried. I am holding an Eagle and touching her beak with my nose. She let me touch her. I am blessed. She has blessed me. The humility that coursed through me was palpable. The air left my lungs and for a moment I couldn't make sense of what had just occurred. My mind returned and I felt deeply honored. Once again I felt like I could stay there forever. I thanked her for letting me hold her and for spending time with us and for behaving with such grace.

Reality set in at some point and she started getting heavy. I eventually gave her back to Jeff and pictures were taken with Brenda and my Jeff. Freedom was shortly there after returned to her home which is out at Sarvey Wildlife Center. We were also treated to getting to watch her bathe. Jeff said she doesn't usually let people watch her bathe or eat. It seemed like we got lots of special treatment that day. It was unequivocally and utterly a highlight in my life.

This wasn't what I meant when I said I wanted to have fun but I will take it and keep it very close to my heart. Before I go to sleep at night I picture Freedom sitting on my arm with her wing around me and I am at peace.

To Jeff and Freedom I offer my deepest heartfelt gratitude.

To Brenda and Drew our new friends, you went way out of your way, for pretty much complete strangers, to provide us with an experience of a lifetime just because you are those kinds of people. Wow how lucky can we get. You shared your time and yourselves with us. Thank you for your thoughtful kindness. The world has good people in it and the two of you are proof.

My love to you all,
Mary