Annual Shorebird Festival

I was up early yesterday for a full day planned at the "8th Annual SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL" at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.  It’s funny how an early morning alarm waking me at sunrise doesn’t seem to faze me for a day of birding.

This day included folks from NYC Audubon, The National Park Service, Don Riepe of the American Littoral Society, renowned bird expert and author Kevin Karlson, and shorebird photographer Lloyd Spitalnik.

The weather was perfect and we started with coffee, bagels, and donuts.  Don Riepe gave a brief presentation including some recent photos and happenings in Jamaica Bay.  There was an amazing turnout – over 100 participants – breaking into approximately 5 different groups with various guides.  We then all headed on our various trails to search for some new or familiar shorebird sightings.

My group, geared in high boots and led by Kevin Karlson, walked along the deep muddy edges of the East Pond until we reached a point where we could enjoy the shorebirds.

Although there were not a lot birds to look at today, we did get to see a great selection; White-rumped Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Red Knot, Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Yellowlegs, Snowy Egret, Dowitcher, and a Ruddy Turnstone.  We also saw a Green-winged Teal, Mallard, and a Northern Shoveler.

After returning back for our lunch break, I joined Lloyd Spitalnik’s group and headed to Big John’s Pond, where I was treated to the sighting of a  Snowy Egret, Yellow-crowned Night Heron as well as a Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron.

We headed back to the center once again, and then took a walk around the West Pond, ending once more at the center for some final presentations.  Lloyd Spitalnik presented some of his photography, sharing some tips on how to get that perfect birding photo.  Kevin Karlson gave a talk with highlights from his upcoming book on shorebird identification in a whole new way.

A perfect full day of sunshine, walking, birding, photography . . .

 

 

 



 

The Journey Continues

We set many goals in various areas of our lives – hoping to accomplish something important – to reach some status – to acquire something – to find fulfillment, etc.

Sometimes goals aren’t met due to our own lack of continuing with our vision.  Other times situations happen that change our goals.  And then there are times when life kicks in – and everything is turned upside down.

My sister Marie was in a car accident on June 16.  I’ve written a few blogs in regard to her accident, hospitalization, and rehabilitation, as she continues on her journey to become whole again.

As time went on – and she continually reached another plateau in her healing - her ultimate goal was to gain full mobility and return home.  Return to her world, her family, her music, her job – her life!

This weekend she was discharged from the rehabilitation center and was finally brought home – 9 weeks following her accident.  She will most likely need continued outpatient rehab – but she has come so far and has healed so well – that it is evident that her life is a miracle.

Although she has reached the goal we have all been praying for – she is nowhere near the end of her journey.  This journey took her down a different path – a path that she never imagined – a path that challenged her to fight for her life – challenged her spirit – challenged her ability to let others be there for her – challenged every imaginable inkling of her being. 

But at the end of that path are now other paths – calling her to stop and realize her life was spared for a purpose.  An opportunity for her to re-think her goals, her beliefs, her passions, and which path she hopes to follow.  A time for her to wonder “why?”  Why was her life spared and how can she make her future the most amazing experience now that she has returned home?

During this time, she was given the opportunity to not only know in her heart how much her family loves her, but to also experience the evidence of that love.  She also had a window opened allowing her to see the amazing love that surrounds her in other areas of her life; her friends, friends of family, friends of her son, the network of musicians she is connected to, people who don’t even know her but know her friends & family continuing to hold onto the hope that she would return home.

We should all share the love and concern for each other throughout our lives – yet so many times its when there is tragedy that we come around and shower someone with how important they are to us; sometimes we are never given that opportunity.  Luckily my sister was able to have the chance to receive this. 

She can now move forward as she continues on her journey - with the knowledge that she is extremely loved, is important to so many, is blessed, and has now been given another chance – a chance to discover her purpose.

The Top of the Mountain

I don’t know anyone who can honestly say they’ve sailed through life without obstacles crossing their path.

Some obstacles are small and we handle them with little difficulty – others are major - causing us to pause, wonder why, and be tested beyond what we thought we could ever handle.

What does being at the Top of the Mountain mean?  I thought reaching “the top” meant I have accomplished what it was I was striving for.  Until a conversation I listened to recently.

My sister Marie was in a horrific car accident on June 16.  She was unconscious for nearly three weeks, on a ventilator for nearly five weeks, still receives oxygen through a tracheotomy, and is still battling the injuries that were inflicted on her body 47 days ago.

Every day she fights to become stronger – waits for her body to heal a bit more – and experiences long, long days as she wonders if she will ever be herself again.

Many days she is discouraged – so discouraged that she doesn’t believe she can do the exercises given to her, doesn’t believe she will ever be home again, doesn’t even care.  Other times I see her strength to push forward and I am amazed at what a strong woman she really is.

Our family continually encourages her, tells her how far she has come; especially since she is unaware of the first 3 weeks of her journey.  We’ve been having more and more conversations letting her know details of her injuries, but also the miracles that have been showered on her, getting her to where she is today.  Friends send messages of love, continue to pray, encourage her with how much they can’t wait until they can be with her again.  And yet, pain, difficulty breathing, weakness, and fear creep into her body, causing her to doubt.

I want to remove the fear from her eyes and help her believe her life has been spared for an amazing purpose.  As I sit and hold her hand, I share my love and at the same time encourage her to keep fighting.  She has made unbelievable strides – she has come so far – but she looks ahead and wonders whether she can make it to the end of this race – and be home once more.

A few nights ago, while I was visiting her, her nurse practitioner came by to check on her.  Besides being extremely qualified in her field, this particular woman has the gift of encouragement and has a way of speaking with Marie; sharing medical details, letting her know there is a long journey ahead, but giving her such hope to hold onto, that I wanted to jump for joy when she finished speaking.

Her conversation to Marie was that Marie has reached the “top of the mountain.”  My first thought was, “ummm, not really.”  Then she elaborated.

She told Marie her entire journey was as if climbing a massive mountain.  Each step of her healing, each accomplishment, took her further and further up that mountain.  She said she felt Marie was now at the top; the worst was behind – meaning the critical moments, the major medical concerns, were behind her.  She was now at the top, ready for the next phase of her journey – getting closer to her goal - home.

“Marie, you’re not going to soar down the other side on a skateboard,” she said, “but rather as a beginner skier, moving down slowly, moving side to side, slowly making it down the other side – finally bringing you to the bottom.”  She has tons of work ahead of her; physical therapy will be a major challenge.  But she is at the top of that mountain, ready to start her way down, working with her body toward complete healing – until she is at the bottom and skiing to the finish line – into the door of her home.

How do we see mountains before us as we move along our journey?  Are we looking at the mountain as an immoveable obstacle?  Are we looking at it as a challenge to give all we can, pull to the top, and then that’s it?  Or do we see it as a journey that we are climbing until we reach the top, using faith, strength, trust, & hope - where we then get a glimpse of the other side - our true goal?

I’ve held onto my faith during this entire time.  Faith in my God who hears prayers, faith in the same God who has been holding up Marie every step of her journey, faith in the God who gives me words of encouragement, hope and love to share with my sister every day of her life.  One of my sincere prayers is that Marie will see how far he has carried her, trust he will continue to do so - not only through this journey - but throughout her life if she would allow him into her heart as well.  

I’ve realized that making it to the top of the mountain may just be the first part of an amazing challenge in our lives.  It might just be the beginning of moving in the right direction to where we are meant to be.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip - 

he who watches over you will not slumber;

the Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade on your right hand.

- Psalm 121:1-5

 

A Heart of Gratitude

I was praying last night, thanking the Lord for how far my sister has come since her car accident on June 16. Yesterday was her birthday, and as we tried to have a small celebration with her while she was in the hospital, she reached another milestone on her journey towards complete healing.

Marie was off the ventilator – on a collar, which gives her some extra oxygen through her tracheotomy.  She has been doing this for longer periods of time each day for awhile now.  The respiratory technician came in to assess her progress and commented on how well she was doing that day – producing more oxygen herself and taking in much less oxygen from the machine.  As she continued to check everything – she disconnected all the apparatus for the ventilator – smiled – and rolled it out of Marie’s room!

The greatest birthday gift ever!  Marie is completely off the ventilator!  This will enable her to move towards the next phase of her rehab – hopefully removing the tracheotomy and then being discharged from the hospital; then going to a facility for her final rehabilitation!

I rejoiced in this phase of her healing and felt a pull to focus on a true heart of gratitude.  Knowing that this is what the Lord asks of each of us at all times – but especially when we are faced with challenges and trials.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what you have into enough – it can turn a house into a home – a stranger into a new found friend – a meal into a feast.  It can turn feeling you are a victim of a situation into feeling you are actually a survivor of an unbelievable feat.

Unfortunately more people constantly complain about their lives than those seeking to see the blessings that they already have each and every day.

Once you have a heart of gratitude, you are able to see the number of blessings all around you.  You stop being selfish, you appreciate others, you see all your blessings overflowing every day.  A heart of gratitude allows you to see through the eyes of God; allowing you to understand how much he has already done for you, is continuing to do, and you may even get a glimpse into of some of his plans for your future.

The practice of gratitude has been proven to actually boost the immune system.  How amazing that God calling us to have a heart of gratitude is literally a health benefit for ourselves.

I began to thank the Lord for every amazing blessing he has bestowed upon Marie during the last five weeks:

At the very moment she had her accident, at the point of impact, God spared her life; another driver stopped to see how she was – called 911 and called our family to tell us she was in an accident; she was brought to a hospital with one of the best trauma centers; she was brought immediately into surgery (we were not even able to see her when we first arrived at the hospital); she came through the surgery; her care in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit was tremendous; although she had multiple broken ribs, she did not have any spinal injuries; she was unconscious for weeks – yet once she opened her eyes, there was no neurological damage; she progresses daily; although it seems like years to her – she is healing as well as they expect and her future looks very hopeful; she was moved to the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit and began rehabilitation of her lungs, moving closer and closer toward removing her from the ventilator; on her birthday, she was finally removed from the ventilator.

Marie’s support from her family is never-ending; family literally slept at the hospital for the first week she was there – then rotating around the clock – always having someone by her side.  Prayers and well wishes come from anyone that knows Marie as well as those who are supporting each of us – even if they don’t know Marie personally.

Gratitude – something that is expected of us – benefits us in more ways than we can imagine – pleases God – touches the hearts of those around us – allows us to see beauty even in the tough moments in our lives.

I am ever so thankful for my sister’s continued healing and progress.  I look forward to when we can reflect on all the amazing miracles that were poured over her throughout her journey.

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works. – Psalm 9:1

A Glimpse Into a Son's Heart

As a parent, grandparent, and an aunt – I many times still see the young men in my life as the little boys I love so dearly.

My nephew was one adorable little boy – and many times I still see him as this cute little boy.

I would also say I picture Michael with a basketball in his hand more times than not.  He started playing at a very young age and continued not only through college – but still plays, coaches, and runs a basketball clinic for young children.

Every once in awhile – I do see the young man he is – but in my heart – he’s always cute little Michael.

His graduation day from college was a day we were all very proud of – and I guess it was time to realize the little boy had become a man – and was heading into the real world.

This past month has been a time where Michael has not only grown tremendously as a young man – but has revealed his true heart as a son; showing how very much his mom means to him, his appreciation for her, and how he would do anything for her.

Mother’s and sons – especially in single parent families – have their roller coaster relationships – but just as in the ride – each moment is exhilarating – with its ups and downs – but always wanting to continue the ride again and again.

One glimpse into Michael’s heart – a facebook post he had put on Father’s Day:

Happy Father's Day to all the single mothers out there. Especially the one that raised me. 

Marie Panella.
Sometimes it takes a woman to teach you how to be a man.

From that day forward – we have all been on a journey with his Mom, my sister, following her car accident and her days in SICU; holding on to each other, our prayers, and love as she slowly heals.

The “man” Michael referred to in his facebook post – was not only revealed during this time – but went above and beyond what most young men of 27 would be capable of. 

As he dealt with his own fears and concerns, he stepped up as her advocate as days turned to weeks of medical decisions, concerns, caring and loving.  He spent many 24-hour periods at the hospital – waiting.  He challenged decisions, requested meetings with doctors prior to procedures, and sat by her bedside continually until the one day she finally woke up.

He continues to be with her every free moment he has – following-up on procedures and goals being set forth for his Mom.  One of the doctors had said during the first few weeks of her being in SICU that he can’t wait until Michael’s mother wakes up so he can tell her what an amazing advocate Michael has been for her throughout all of this.

My sister has definitely raised an amazing man.  My nephew has definitely proven to be a loving son with unconditional love for his mother.

Although this experience is nothing anyone would want to have in their lives – I am blessed to have been given the opportunity to get a glimpse into the heart of a son – my sister’s son.  I cannot express how proud I am of my nephew and cannot wait until this is all behind us - when I can share so many beautiful moments about my nephew with my sister, his Mom.

Blessings in the Waiting

 

“Hello – your daughter Marie was in a car accident.”

A phone call that began a journey of panic, fear, hope, waiting and blessings – yes, blessings.

As we continue to wait, and wait, for surgeries to be complete, test results to come back, medical teams to meet with us, updates from nurses, setbacks, accomplishments, and more setbacks, I notice the numerous blessings that are pouring in.


Each member of our family reached out to their network of friends and extended family; the blessings began and haven’t stopped.

Friends in my church – brothers & sisters in Christ – immediately began praying and continue to do so.  Close friends – both through church and in other areas of my life – constantly send messages of encouragement – prayers – scriptures – words of hope – and immense love.  These blessings continue and carry me through each day, each restless night of sleep, and each minute while waiting at the hospital.

My nephew (my sister’s son) has a network of support that absolutely amazed me. He has played basketball since he was a little boy holding an immense ball running around the court.  He played all through elementary school, high school and through college – and now coaches kids himself.  Coaches and teammates poured into the hospital.  This included coaches from when he was that little boy all through those he now works with, being 27 years old.  The comradery among these men, young and old, is truly a brotherhood that reaches deep into their hearts. Their visits, their words of encouragement, their love for both my nephew and my sister are truly an immeasurable blessing.

While at the hospital, as we sit in the waiting area while many visit with my sister, we began many conversations with others whose family member is also in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.  Sharing concerns, encouraging one another, praying with one another, brought us closer and closer together.  Soon this was another family member we were waiting to hear updates about as well.  I saw this as such a blessing that we were given the opportunity to encourage others as they too encouraged us.  Waiting didn’t seem so dragged out – and moments of laughter also happened as we got to know each other and our hearts were becoming one.  Another blessing, as we grew to love and care for others while each of us continued to wait.

While we stayed at the hospital, many times through the night, friends began bringing us food & treats to hold us over and give us a break from the hospital cafeteria.  Each time we unwrapped some delicious meal or treat, we were able to smile, and actually enjoy a moment eating together.

We continue to wait, but we also continue to be blessed – blessed by prayers, encouragement, visits, meals, love, shared hope, shared hearts.

We wait as we watch my sister continue to battle the injuries and trauma that was instilled in her body.  We wait for each and every accomplishment in her healing.  We wait to see moments we can reach out to one another - when one is feeling like they can’t hold on any longer.  We wait as someone smiles, holds us tight, and lets us know that they are there for us, telling us how much they love us.  And we watch Marie – also waiting for her own body and health to improve.  She is now in a state of waiting; waiting for the next test to give hope, waiting for the next day – another day closer to her complete healing, waiting for the perfect moment when she will open her eyes and see all who love her surrounding her bedside – waiting for her smile.

 

 

 

They who wait on the Lord

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with

wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

- Isaiah 40:31

 

 

Father's Day

Father’s Day, celebrated the third Sunday in June, gives Fathers all around a day to be fussed over – taken out for dinner – given gifts – some useful – some not so useful - or just left alone in their favorite chair with their remote control!

 

My Dad is actually my step-father.  He came into my life when I was just a young girl – about 7-1/2 years old.  He won my heart while dating my Mom, by handing me a teeny puppy through a screen window of our ground-floor apartment.

 

We ended up moving from that apartment to our first house in Syosset LI – with a large backyard.  My dog Pocchi came along as well.  Many years passed, many moves as well - to another house in Levittown, then back to the city to an apartment in Rego Park Queens.  We moved once again to Astoria and I lived there until I was married in 1975.

Being part of a blended family – especially during a time when most were not sure how to exactly blend families – we had many difficult times.  But as we grew and time moved on, I realized how much I cared for my Dad, and how much he cared for me as well. 

My mom became very ill and Dad’s strong-willed Italian temperament was definitely put to the test.  His heart proved to outweigh any of the toughness I knew growing up, as he cared for my Mom for years, lovingly and completely.

Mom died 19-1/2 years ago – I sometimes can’t believe it’s been that long.  Dad lost the love of his life – and has even reflected on the many things that he “could have done better” for Mom as well as for all of us.  To me this is a true testament to the softening of his heart – being the strong Italian, disciplinarian he was.  Sorry to keep bringing up the Italian in him – but for those who are Italian – first born or generations down the line – you understand what an Italian Dad is made up of!

Dad is now 84 – will be 85 in August of this year.  His joy is seen in his eyes anytime his family is around him.  Between me, my 2 sisters, my 2 step-sisters and step brother, and a ridiculous number of grandchildren, he’s most happy when we are happy as well.  He’ll never admit it – but he waits on Father’s Day for each phone call, card, or invitation to breakfast or to dinner.  The more of us that can be together – the happier is his day.

He didn’t have an easy life – he worked hard and struggled most of the time – but did the best he could.  He is now retired, spending most of his days taking long walks each morning and afternoon, getting together with the few friends that are still living, checking out every new movie that comes out – then giving me his critique of each, playing a few card games on the internet, and watching movies at home as well. 

Spending time with him, laughing at ourselves and life, remembering the many years we’ve shared – is a blessing to me. 

I look forward to celebrating my Father – Dad – Pop to his grandchildren.  A day to show him that I do appreciate him, love him with all my heart, and look forward to many more Father’s Days with him.

 

 

 

Happy Father’s Day Dad – I love you!