Da Juana Byrd

They say pictures are worth a thousand words. Some of the pictures that my friend, Connie, sent me are worth much more. They weren’t pictures of the family or of the animals I love so much. Instead, they were just pictures of things like cherry blossoms, spring in Germany and fall somewhere else.

As I took the time to look at the pages and continued to page down, all I could do was say, “Wow.” They took my breath away.

Her caption for these beautiful prints was simply, “Take a moment.” She knows me so well.

And I did. Didn’t even feel the usual guilt for taking it either.

Da Juana

Today, I saw two little hummingbirds fighting over the juice I so lovingly prepare for them. The problem was that I thought they were all gone because I hadn’t seen any in a few days. You know they trek to Mexico or thereabouts this time of year. Anyway, I got to feeling like a lousy feeder. So I made them more.

It caused me to remember when Claude and I first bought our ranch. The Monarch butterflies were making their way to Mexico and were so thick it looked like ashes floating on the breeze except for one small thing. We were frightened of stepping on our beautiful visitors. For as far as the eye could see, while looking up, we could see butterflies. Not to mention walking through them like running through an obstacle course. It was magnificent. Then I started to realize that some of the butterflies had flown so long that they became tired. When they hit the ground, it was as if they had been sleeping, like a driver who hits speed bumps and realizes they should be awake, they would jerk almost and take off flying again.

Their flight tactics continued for three days. That is one of the wonders Claude and I have seen together.

Da Juana

It’s funny how my ghostly acquaintances visit. Sometimes they come to see me on a minute-to-minute basis and at other times, I might not see them for days. Lately though, I don’t get much chance to miss them. And they are not always the same people. Believe me, I feel really funny when they are not around for more than one reason.

When you have ghosts taking care of you, you don’t need an alarm service. Years ago, while Claude and I were out in the motor home, I told him that I thought we needed to go home right then. Upon arriving, we noted that lights were on in the house in a few rooms. We had turned them all off. When I asked my ghostly friends why they did it, they told me to keep the house safe. Later the next morning we found out that a robbery had occurred right up the street. Ghosts had made sure the robbers thought the house was occupied and it was.

Sometimes the ghosts who visit come to tell me something. Sometimes they come just to be with me even though I have no idea who they are. What I do know is that they are comforting to me. Their presence is something I miss sorely when they miss a few days. Another thing is that the ghosts who visit aren’t always people.

Ghosts make life so much more interesting. As one told me once, “Fear not the dead, but fear the living.” He was right. He had just reminded me to lock my front door, which I thought was locked but after his verbal abuse, found it was not. Most ghosts are good people even when they are animals.

Da Juana

You know how I told you that I rarely take the time to be a woman. I rarely go shopping or do things other women do. Well, now I have two things I do that I figure most women like. One is that I have started to take ballroom dancing with a couple of friends. Just don’t get enough time for it.

The other thing that I do for myself is that I buy good face cleanser and products that make me look a little better, I hope. My daughter had told me about a product that she loved but I listened with only one ear. Later, my friend, Connie, told me that she wanted to share a product with me. Guess what. It was the same and I am hooked. It uses all natural products so you know I would be. So, I guess I do have a couple of things that I do like a woman now.

Today, I was doing a segment on a radio show for a person I like a lot. She was working with two other men whom I had never met. To make a long story short, one of the men began to question me about what I do and how religion looks at my ability. I didn’t have a problem with it but because I had to leave early because of prior commitments, I didn’t get to discuss it quite like I would have liked. Anyway, as I said before, to make a long story short, one of the men asked if I had any ghostly friends visiting right then. I went into a dissertation on how I didn’t demand that ghosts appear but rather ask if anyone over there is willing to talk with us. Really, most just walk up and wait for me to acknowledge them. Instead a man walked up while I was telling them no and stood. I told them who he was by giving his characteristics and looks, height, etc.. Guess who’s father he was?

Gotta go for now.

Da Juana

This weekend I was in Kansas City at my oldest nephew’s wedding. It was spectacular. The bride was beautiful but I was partial to the groom. My brother and the groom’s brother were best men for the groom. That is a southern tradition to those of you who don’t know. If the groom loves his father, then that man is his best friend.

The bride has a little daughter who looked like a little angel when she walked through the door as a flower girl. On Friday, at the rehearsal, she had been instructed along with the other flower girl to walk slowly and drop petals along the way to the altar. Well, this little two year old, as soon as the door opened, looked at my nephew and screamed, “Hi, Daddy,” as loud as she could. He has been her father since she was eight months old.

What could he do? He put out his arms and said, “Come to daddy.” She ran all the way into his arms, where he picked her up. Then he reminded her that she needed to drop petals. She did. The whole basket and then told him that she needed more.

This is a memory they will all cherish, especially, daddy.

Da Juana

Got this from someone who wants answers. That is one of the best parts of being human to me. You can always question until you find the answer that feels right to you. Not only that but he gave me a grand compliment and I can’t pass that up. The real me has real problems with accepting compliments but I am trying to be better about it. I like to give them though. Thank, William, for the wonderful questions below. I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.