Woody's




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" February 3, 2004 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart." You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. ------------------------------------------------------------ When you are around children or animals, things are going to happen. I’m so glad the Pamela shares her happenings with us! ------------------------------------------------------------ All new subscribers will receive a free downloadable copy of the e-cookbook, “Write 2 the Heart of the Chocolate Lover.” To subscribe send a blank e-mail to: subscribe@write2theheart.com. ------------------------------------------------------------- Woody's Great Escape By Pamela Jenkins ------------------------------------------------------------ The green pickup raced into the parking lot and skidded to a halt. I watched through the office window as the woman behind the wheel threw open her door and slid out, slamming it shut behind her. She stepped in the front door of our veterinary clinic and looked around, nervous and shaken. Seeing me behind the counter, she rushed forward and began to tell me her problem. "Hi, I hope you can help me. There's a woodpecker inside my pickup." Working in a veterinary clinic, we're often presented with wild birds that are sick or injured. Good Samaritans bring them to us, knowing that we'll turn them over to the local Game Warden for rehabilitation if possible. "Can you bring it inside? We'll have the doctor take a look at it." "Oh, no!" the woman said. "It's loose in my pickup, and I'm scared of it. Every time it moves I throw some of my laundry on top of it, but it keeps flying around." While my veterinarian husband put on the thick leather gloves, I grabbed a pet carrier and we joined the nervous driver of the pickup in the parking lot. "He's right there," she whispered as she pointed through the passenger window. We peered through the tinted glass but didn't see a bird. What we could see was a laundry basket on the seat and articles of clothing thrown hither and yon about the inside of the cab. As we eased the door open, I saw a set of pajama pants on the floor move ever so slightly. Then it began to billow and flap around. "Gotcha!" said my husband as he picked up the clothing and unwrapped the bird. We pushed the protesting bundle of feathers inside the pet carrier and secured the door. The woman gave a sigh of relief, and offered her heartfelt thanks. She drove away before we could ask her how the woodpecker happened to be trapped inside her pickup in the first place. Inside the office, we took the carrier to an exam room and lifted out the patient. It was a pileated woodpecker with the prettiest scarlet crest on top of its head. My husband turned it over and checked its underside and legs. All looked normal. He gently stretched each wing to its full expanse. They were missing no feathers, and folded up just right when released. Its eyes were bright and alert, the bird appeared to be unharmed. The pileated woodpecker was not appreciative of this attention, however, and started drumming his long beak on the leather gloves. With his tiny black eyes flashing annoyance, he seemed quite indignant. Usually we give a wild bird an hour or two of isolation to reduce its stress of capture and handling, but this little fellow seemed full of life. We made the decision to try a test flight right away. We walked to the field beside the clinic. My husband loosened his hold on the woodpecker, and away it went! With a swoop and a spin, it flew about a hundred yards into some trees. Immediately, it tested one with his beak. Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap. Than it flitted further away into the woods. Smiling and holding hands, my husband and I returned to the clinic. You know, I could almost hear that Woody Woodpecker laugh behind us as we walked away. Pamela Jenkins bunnies-n-birds @ juno.com You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story, just remember to remove the space before and after the @ symbol. The space is placed in the address to protect our writers from viruses and email harvesting programs. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Pamela Jenkins lives in Oklahoma with her husband of twenty-three years and their four children. She is the office manager of a veterinary clinic and enjoys writing in her spare time. She is a coauthor of such books as Chocolate for a Woman's Dreams and Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul. -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters From Our Readers -------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for sharing this beautiful story of 'giving love'...a lesson I need to be reminded of so often. Jo Ann S. I loved Janet's story. My mother taught me the same lesson. I have found so many friends this way. tlc --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Prayer Reminder --------------------------------------------------------------- As you read over this list of names, please take that moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Thaddeaus Howard Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ken Prieur Ryan Jonathan P. Wells Larry Miele Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. --------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner The rat terrier puppy is a rascal! David loves this little bundle of energy so much; he spends hours teaching it things. Things like how to sing and how to count. When David starts singing, the pup lifts his little nose to the sky and sings along. He’s starting to stay on key better than David. My grandsons think this is wonderful, my household has more singing than ever before. You are going to laugh with disbelief at this; I sure did until I was shown. But the pup, Selah, can count to three. See, I told you that you were going to laugh! David taught him with popcorn and by snapping his fingers. David says one and snaps his fingers and the pup barks once. David says two and snaps his fingers twice and the pup barks twice. When David says three and snaps three times the pup barks three times. They both reward themselves with lots and lots of popcorn. God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2004 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.