Page 2 - MidWeek Kauai - December 14, 2022

2 KAUA‘I MIDWEEK DECEMBER 14, 2022
The Rescue
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains
Wunawakened.” — Anatole France
hen a friend from the fall was a broken an- brought me a tiny, kle and paralyzed foot. Efforts featherless hatch- to stand or perch using both
Seeking a way for JJ to interact with other birds, an online search brought up a valuable resource: Wild Bird Rehab Haven, a local nonprof- it staffed by volunteers.
CBhristmas Cheer
ack by popular demand (all right, one guy asked me for
jumped into action to save it. The famished baby cried des- perately for its mother.
mirable struggle. Without ever setting eyes on another bird, JJ instinctively practiced flying.
After emailing a photo, a re- ply shot back, “That’s a papaya finch.”
it), here is an all-new version of vaunted Christmas song
With its eyes still closed, I clumsily pried the little mouth open for feedings while apol- ogizing profusely.
Cheery chirping woke me daily at dawn. The bare patch- es of skin filled in with downy fluff and JJ developed a perky personality. As the days passed, this determined little creature gained the strength to stand on one foot and use the other for balance.
be with his own kind.”
In that moment our journey
titles deftly (or tone-deafly) applied to the surreal reality we call our everyday existence in December 2022:
They suggested meeting a birder who provides sanctuary for orphaned finches.
as rescuer and rescued ended, but who was rescued became unclear.
• I’ll Be Home For Christmas— Yes, but this year, it’s my choice, not COVID-related.
It was fascinating to witness the fierce survival instinct of this fragile creature as its chest rose and fell with each deter- mined breath.
Upon arrival, the bird rehabber gently held JJ to examine the damaged foot, concluding that JJ wouldn’t survive in the wild.
In a rush of emotion, I re- alized that over the past few months how this little creature had been a gift that opened my heart in a new way.
• Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town — He sure is, along with millions of visitors.
• Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy — Hey, if Bing Crosby and David Bowie could get together for this gem (1977), can we please find a little empathy to help resolve rifts?
Force-feedings continued, and now assured it would sur- vive, I pondered a name.
To end each day, JJ perched facing west, transfixed as the sun sank into the horizon. At first this behavior was a curi- osity, but then I followed JJ’s example and discovered an evening ritual that brought me a surprising sense of peace.
The woman asked softly, “Do you want him to live in my aviary?”
• You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch — To all those Grinch-like among us who apparently can’t/won’t find their inner souls the other 364 days a year.
“Maybe it’s a sparrow,” I thought, “but I don’t know if it’s a Jack Sparrow or a Jill. So, you’re JJ!”
My eyes filled with tears at the thought of this separation, but the words flew straight out of my heart. “Yes, JJ needs to
Thalya DeMott is a longtime Honolulu resident and commu- nity activist.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Robin Stephens Rohr and Lynne Johnson.
• It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas — Usually that starts around Oct. 20 in the retail world.
• Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas — “Little” is just fine, because it’s really OK to celebrate Christmas small, sans fanfare, but sincerely on this special day of days.
It appeared that JJ’s injury
ling fallen from a high tree, I feet were a relentless and ad-
Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and 3x3 block. Use logic and process of elimination to solve the puzzle. The difficulty level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest). Answers are on page 11
RATING: BRONZE
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• It Came Upon A Midnight Clear — That would be some direc- tion from officialdom on the future of Red Hill, which would be a miracle indeed.
• We Wish You A Merry Christmas — Great concept, but do we really need that figgy pudding?
• Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer — Thankfully, thoughtfully placed speed bumps are popping up around O‘ahu to preclude this possibility.
• Do They Know It’s Christmas? — A pop hit “end famine” classic from 1984, its pleas still resonate today as over 820 million people worldwide go to bed hungry every night.
• O Holy Night — Gone, but surely not forgotten, Willie K provided us with this chicken-skin classic rendition to behold forever more. Thanks, Uncle Willie.
• Little Saint Nick — He used to be Big Saint Nick, but in this digital/computer chip/AI world we now wholeheartedly em- brace, anything can be shrunk.
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen — And those frontline gentle ladies, too, for the incredible work done over the past 1,000 days, providing constant aid and comfort during the pandemic.
• Baby, It’s Cold Outside — Yes, you can hear that said among people here when it hits (heaven forbid!) 67 degrees.
• The Mongoose Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) — Well, The Chipmunk Song local style.
Good tidings to you and yours, and let’s stretch this season of joy into an annual sentiment.
Think about it.
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com
with Thalya DeMott