A Charm of Hummingbirds

Bury

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.

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My mom loved hummingbirds. She had collected figurines of birds for many years, but her hummingbirds were always  her favorite.  She also did cross stitch embroidery, and she  made a lovely throw for me that featured a hummingbird in one corner.

She died five years ago this month, when she was 87. She had lived in Colorado for the last few years of her life, in the valley where she and my dad met and married and started their family. She loved it there in her little town of Fruita, not too far from Grand Junction, where my sister and I were born.

Sandy had already chosen a grave site in Elmwood Cemetery. The site was situated right next to a big bush.  I’m not sure what it was–possibly a columbine? In any case, it was a lovely spot, and we knew Mom would have enjoyed the setting.

I tried to find a picture of the site,but  was unable to find one. It was just a little bit removed, in an area that hadn’t been claimed yet.

The ceremony went smoothly on that beautiful, crisp, but hot Colorado day. There had been music, and a comforting message from the pastor.

Just as things were winding down and people began to stand, someone shouted, “Look!” We all turned just in time to see a burst of hummingbirds rising from behind the bush over Mom’s grave site.  I don’t know how many there were, but it was an amazing sight to see. We had buried her, apparently, in a place where hummingbirds gathered.

A flock of hummingbirds is called a charm.  Fitting.  And I could almost see my short little mother, standing there smiling from ear to ear as her very own charm of hummingbirds honored her life.

 

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