NEST FIDELITY

It was a dreary day and I needed to do something to make myself feel better. So I went to my son, Alex's door and knocked. “Can I look out your side door?” I called. “I want to see if the daffodils are coming up by your porch.”

“Sure.” he called.

I went through his bedroom and into his office. “Thanks.” I said as I opened the side door and stepped out onto his small deck. Leaning over the railing I could see that not only had the daffodils come up but you could see some of the buds popping through too. “Yeah!” I cried. “Do you want to come see the daffodils? They're almost ready to open!”

“That's okay. I believe you.” I could hear him busily tapping away on his keyboard.

I popped my head back inside. “You know what this means don't you?”

Alex turned in his chair, a confused looked on his face. “What?”

“Spring is on the way!” I couldn't help but smile.

Alex shook his head and laughed. “It's still February.”

“Hey, there was a reason the daffodils were planted on the sunny side of the house.” I stepped back inside and sat down on his futon. “So they'd come up sooner then the rest and make me feel like Spring is just around the corner.”

“Well, if that makes you feel better, I'm glad.” He turned back to his computer.

“You know what else this means, don't you?”

“No.” Alex shook his head. “What?”

“Your robin couple will be making their nest in the holly tree right outside your window again.”

His fingers stopped in midair as he turned around to face me. “Are you kidding me?”

I shook my head. “Nope. It's called nest fidelity. I looked it up. It's a real thing.”

Alex looked confused. “Nest fidelity?”

“Yup. It's when birds have a successful nest they'll go back to the same spot, if not the same nest and start all over again!” I couldn’t help but smile. “Isn't that amazing!”

Alex leaned back in his chair. “That's just great.” he sighed. “Another few weeks of that idiot bird pooping all over my deck and slamming himself against my storm door.”

“Hey, he was only trying to protect his nest. He kept seeing his reflection in your storm door and thought another bird was invading his territory.”

“Exactly what I said. He was an idiot!”

“Well, if you want me to, I can always put the paper up on the door to block his reflection.”

Alex sighed again. “That's still not going to stop him from using my deck as his bathroom.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Well, maybe he won't be as messy this year.”

“What makes you say that?” He reached over and grabbed his water bottle and took a drink.

“Well if we get the paper up before they come back maybe he won't see his reflection and feel like he has to sit on your railing to guard his nest?”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I guess we could try. Do you want to put it up now?”

Now it was my turn to look confused. “Why would I put it up now? It's only February!”

Alex just shook his head as he turned back to his computer. “You're killing me here.”

I had to laugh as I got up and kissed him on the top of the head. “I love you too.”

SHOWING THE LOVE

I was standing in front of my son Alex's bedroom door, ready to tape a pink heart to it, when the door opened. Alex was standing there looking at me as I held the pink heart up in the air. “I was just ready to put this on your door but...” I shrugged my shoulders. “here you go.” I handed it to him instead.

Alex looked at the heart and read what I'd written on it out loud. “I love your three pat hugs.”

Alex looked back at me and smiled. “Ah, thanks.” He leaned over and gave me a hug, with his three pats to my back, before going back into his room with the note.

I followed him in and saw that he had a pile of the notes I'd been leaving him. “Ahhh, you're keeping them?”

“Sure.” Alex looked confused. “Why wouldn't I?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I thought you were throwing them out after you were done reading them.”

Alex looked surprised. “That wouldn't be very nice of me.”

“Oh, wait. I didn't mean it that way!” I looked back at the pile of pink hearts on his side table next to his computer. “I've been leaving them on your Dad closet door too. He hasn't said a lot about them but I know he likes them because he's left them all up.” I looked over at Alex and smiled. “You, on the other hand, came out every night and held the note out and thanked me.” I shrugged my shoulders again. “I just figured the two of you had different ways of showing me you liked them and I wrongly assumed your way was telling me thank you and than tossing them.”

“Well, see I surprised you again!”

I smiled. “You did.” I thought back to the first of the month when I started the notes. “You know, I've had fun thinking of things I like about my guys. It's made leading up to Valentine's Day fun.”

Alex looked surprised. “We've never made Valentine's Day a big deal around here before.”

“I know.” I sighed. “It's just that when I read an article about doing this for the days leading up Valentines Day, I sat down and started to think of different things I like about you guys.” I looked back at the pile of hearts. “The list came out so quickly that it seemed silly not to do it.” I looked back at Alex and smiled. “Well, it's time for me to put your Dad's note up before I go to bed.” I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.

Alex smiled. “Does that mean you want me to do this for you next year?”

“No, but maybe when you're ready to throw them out you can give them to me instead.”

“Sure.” Alex looked confused. “So you can use them again next year?”

I had to laugh. “Kind of. But not the way you think.”

Alex still looked confused.

“I want to remember what I said this year so I don't repeat myself next year.” I smiled as I headed to his door. “I'm pretty sure I can think of 14 new things I like about you for next year.”

AISLE 1, 2 OR 3

“How'd it go?” Steven asked as he opened the front door to let me in.

“Have I mentioned how much I hate grocery shopping?” I said as I walked by him headed to the kitchen with bags hanging from both my arms.

“Any more in the car?”

“Yeah, thanks!” I called as I put the bags on the counter top and began unloading.

Steven came in with more bags and placed them on the counter. “This is the last of them.” He reached in and pulled out a large container of feta cheese.

I looked over at him. “Do you know how hard it was to find that?” I pointed to the feta container.

“Wasn't it in the cheese aisle?” Steven put it in the refrigerator.

“No.” I pulled out the yellow sheet of paper that was the store directory. “You've been telling me to use this until I get used to the new store but it tells you cheese is in freezer door 35 through 51 and you can find a tiny container there but then when I got to the produce section they had the big container there.” I shook my head annoyed as I remembered having to go back through the entire store to return the tiny container. “The store directory is useless!”

“It's not useless.” Steven sighed as he put the loaf of bread in the cabinet. “You just hate getting used to a new store.”

“I'm not arguing that!” I sighed as I put the cold cuts away. “The place is packed all the time!”

“That's because everyone loves a new store but you.” He was leaned against the counter as I finished putting the last of the groceries away. “But once you get used to it I bet you're going to love it too.”

“I'm going to have to.” I sighed again as I held up the container of hummus. “Guess where they keep this?”

Steven laughed. “Where?”

“I can't remember.” I laughed. “But I remember thinking, that's a stupid place to have it!” I put it in the refrigerator.

Steven came over and gave me a hug. “I know you don't like change but I promise you'll get used to this new store and you'll love it!”

“I know.” I leaned back against the counter. “I did find one trick that helps get me around the store when it's really crowded.”

“What?
“Aisle 1, 2 and 3! They're always empty. So if I want to get from one side of the store to the other, I use them.”

Steven seemed confused. “Why are they always empty?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “That's where all the healthy stuff is.” I started to laugh. “Clearly we don't live in a community that wants natural snacks, gluten free stuff or any kind of vitamins.”

Steven shook his head. “In a way, that's kind of sad.”

“Really?” I looked over at him. “They have an open barrel of bulk granola in that aisle. I can pick up a few scoops for you if you want.”

Steven shook his head. “No thanks. I'm good.”

ONE MORE TIME

It was Sunday afternoon and I was curled up on the couch watching television when my husband Steven came in. “What are you watching?”

“The Greatest Showman movie.” I reached for my water bottle and took a sip before putting it back on the coffee table.

Steven laughed. “Again? How many times does this make?”

“Three.” I looked at my watch. “But it's still early, I can watch it again tonight.”

Steven stood next to the couch watching the movie.

“Do you want to watch it with me?” I patted the cushion next to me.

“No, I'm good.” He was still standing there. “I'm not a big fan of musicals.”

I grabbed the controller and hit pause. “So, what's up?”

“I'm just trying to figure out what it is about this movie that you love so much you'd watch it three times in one weekend.”

I looked back at the television where the cast was in mid jump in a spectacular dance number. “I don't know. Everything, I guess. I love the music, the dancing, the story about P.T. Barnum.” I shrugged my shoulders. “It just reminds me of going to a Broadway show.” I looked back at the television. “It makes me happy.” I smiled at him.

“I get it.” He kissed me on the top of the head and went into the kitchen. “You miss going to the shows with your sister.”

I sighed. “Ever since she moved from New York I miss going into the city and doing things with her.” I softly said to myself. I was about to tap the pause button again to start the show when my son Alex came into the room.

“Wow! You're watching this again?”

“It's her third time!” Steven called from the kitchen.

“Come on guys!” now it was time for me to laugh. “How many times have you two watched The Godfather?”

Steven came back into the room. “That's different. That's a classic!”

I looked back at the television. “I bet this will be a classic someday, too!”

Steven and Alex looked at each other and Alex began shaking his head. “I not so sure about that.” he said.

“We've watched a lot of movies more than once but never in the same weekend.” Steven added.

“Well, that's what makes us different I guess.” I adjusted the pillow behind my back. “I could watch this over and over and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.” I began humming one of the tunes. “See, I can't get them out of my head.”

Steven shook his head. “Well, you enjoy yourself.” he looked over at Alex. “Feel like watching The Godfather again?”

Alex shrugged his shoulder. “Sure, why not.”

“See we're all watching classic movies this weekend.” I pushed the pause button and all the dancers landed on the ground continuing their routine.

“You're not watching a classic.” Steven called to me as he headed to his den.

“It is to me!” I called back.