{"id":1765,"date":"2014-10-27T23:02:38","date_gmt":"2014-10-27T23:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nosmallthing.net\/main\/?p=1765"},"modified":"2021-05-08T14:40:58","modified_gmt":"2021-05-08T14:40:58","slug":"little-sparrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nosmallthing.net\/main\/little-sparrow\/","title":{"rendered":"Little Sparrow"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"sparrow<\/a>I was walking from an appointment to the subway when the realization hit me. It was past three o\u2019clock and I hadn\u2019t eaten since breakfast. I didn\u2019t want to go to Mickie Dee\u2019s or opt for a very pricey trip through the salad bar at Whole Paycheck.<\/p>\n

I ducked off Michigan Avenue, which was crowded with tourists and buskers with their open, velour-lined guitar and violin cases sporting collections of singles and found myself on Huron Street in front of a little Italian deli and bakery, L\u2019Appetito. I bought a calzone and found a seat on their small patio.<\/p>\n

A short, black iron railing and a thin layer of bushes surrounded the little rectangle where six two-seat caf\u00e9 tables and black wicker chairs were arranged. One giant red umbrella provided shade for the entire area.<\/p>\n

I chose a chair near the sidewalk and rested my backpack on the chair opposite me. I started nibbling on my calzone, which was really hitting the spot, when a little sparrow emerged from the bushes and landed not three feet from me.<\/p>\n

Of course, I started to talk to the bird. It wasn\u2019t exactly a baby bird, but it didn\u2019t seem to be fully grown either. It was probably 4 inches from the end of his tail to his beak, different shades of gray with a bluish underbelly. He turned his head in jerky movements as if a character in a stop action animation. For a few moments, he puffed up, spreading out his feathers and extending his chest as if he was pretending to be bigger than he was.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m so glad you stopped by today, little sparrow. Do you want to tell me something?<\/em><\/p>\n

Even if I did not speak these words out loud, the bird seemed to know I was addressing him. He tilted his head as if questioning me. I wanted to take this chance encounter with such a natural, unpretentious creature as a sign that something good was about to enter my life.<\/p>\n

I took another bite of my calzone and observed how a thread of melted cheese stretched from my mouth to the pocket style sandwich I held in my hand. I listened to the bells from St. James Cathedral across the street peal, marking the quarter hour. I contemplated the kinds of life changes I\u2019d welcome. I contemplated that the bird was here to grant me a wish.<\/p>\n

The idea came over me that I should share my lunch. I broke off a corner of my calzone. Then again, I took the piece of bread and broke it down further into about eight crumbs, each one small enough, I hoped, to fit down the bird\u2019s throat. I placed some crumbs on the table and some on the patio floor.<\/p>\n

The little sparrow scooped up one crumb eagerly. He held it in his beak for a few moments before he gulped it down. He picked up a second crumb then flew away.<\/p>\n

A few seconds later, a similarly sized sparrow landed on the table, grabbed a crumb and flew off. Then another bird replicated this routine. And then another bird, and another\u2026until all the crumbs were gone.<\/p>\n

I smiled. What was I thinking? That the bird was here to bring me a message from the universe, that he landed on my table at L\u2019Appetito to tell me something? He was just hungry and he knew of a good spot to have this need met.<\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe this was the extent of the message.<\/p>\n

Getting a gentle reminder from the universe that it\u2019s not always about you<\/em><\/strong> is no small thing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was walking from an appointment to the subway when the realization hit me. 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