You Can't Change Me

I barely just moved into my house a few months ago. Theirs so much life and nature in this area. But the one place that caught my attention the most was a creek just around the corner, near a playground, hidden by sagebrush's' and tall trees. It was calling for someone to watch its beauty instead of just walk by. But I didn't, I listened to the swaying of the trees on a cold, windy afternoon. The whistling of the wind as if it was trying to speak to me. It lured me in like how a snake waits for its prey and springs to attack. That is what this creek has done to me. It had struck me with curiosity, injected me with knowledge which is far worse then venom. As it slowly takes me away from this earth and into an unknown world. A world where its just me and this creek, me sitting by its side watching they very life of it slowly change, as everyone else around me   noticeably change and causes pain deep in my chest.







Field note
9/16
drawing by Ivette Reyes

  As I was walking along the side of the the bushes I spotted a bunny. I got down on my knees as quietly as I could. I pulled out my journal (which I forgot was in my hand) and I just stared at it, trying to get a visual picture, capture every last detail of it. It had these sharp eyes that drained into your soul as it was cold and in danger.  It just stared at me, frightened wondering who is this person or thing. Why is it staring at me. Cant you see I am trying to eat so I can get back to my babies. And in that moment of silence it came close to me and just got a whiff of me.And wandered back  home, to her babies. While I just stood their on my knees astounded( did I smell or what.) I have had a bunny that I loved  so much. He was a house bunny, trained, tamed. But this bunny was different, it was wild and free to wonder to a never ending road. That started with just one hop. I wish its that easy to change your course of directions, to start your own path. Not one that is chosen for you. This bunny could have left the other direction and abandoned  its babies. But no it decided to stay and go home. Everyone has that choice to stomp their foot and say no I am going to do it my way whether you like it or not. We can look the other way and strive the way we want to and take that first step in that direction. Just like how the bunny did. It just takes one step to change your path.

At first the creek gave me the goosebumps every time I would approach its presence. One day I was like you know what my teacher said to explore beyond your surroundings. So I decided to go down the creek that stretched far out. And as I when down the narrow steep wall that down lured god knows what. It was hard to decide, theirs either left or right. The left was dark, the shadow of the tree casting over the hollow ground, and the sounds of the birds. While the right was soundless and lighted up like a winter day on Christmas Eve while people are astound asleep, waiting for Santa to bring them their presents. I was like hmm the dark side or the sweet side. It was easy of course, I am going the scary way. When I as trolling my way down the creek, all I would see where the spiders crawling out of their deans as my feet creaked into their homes and an alarm going off,  that sent them descending in every direction. And I was like yeah I cant handle this so I headed the other way which was like a car doing a U turn ( or what my dad says hes flipping a you know what). I went up the hill, to the path just scanning the ground and lurking into the bushes and shrubs trying to find something descent to stare at. And my path lead me to what looked like a snake. Wish kind of freaked me out but also made me curious to see ( I checked if it was dead of course). As I poking around with a stick like a nine year old I noticed these feathers and then I found a baby bird that suffered a painful and unexpected death. It was learning to fly, Man I almost got this. Wait until my brothers and sister see me there going to be jealous. Oh and my dad hes going to be so proud of me and mom smothering me in kisses.It is just like a child learning how to ride a bike, nothing on their mind but learning how to ride that bike, no matter how much times it takes, the scratches that get marked into me. I am going to ride this bike even if it kills me. Next thing you know your doing it! Your riding the bike but then you start rolling down a hill and loose control and crash into the bush. Your parents yelling and asking are you okay. But this bird had no help, it was injected with venom that  had no idea would cause them to their death. This bird had no chance of surviving in the wilderness. The snake was the cause of its death but its like they say what goes around, comes around. It happens to some people while for others its lurking , slithering around ,waiting to strike out its prey.

Taken by
Ivette Reyes
9/18/14

The one thing I look forward to are the birds. Their was this bird that was beautiful, it had blue on the bottom near its stomach, and it was right where the light was shining which made it look even more beautiful then before. It was holding what looked like sticks or maybe food. Just looking around, trying to find its group and flew away. But theirs one bird that I am always stocked to see. I call them the antenna bird from the way they have a stick on top of their head like a television. And they make some interesting bird sounds that just takes your breath away and gasp for air And their is always these three birds that always know I am their. They huddle together and run to a bush to another. I always try to take a picture but right when they see my phone they instantly fly away ( talk about not like having their picture taken). They sense my presence and lurk their heads seeing, watching me, making sure I don't do anything to destroy their home. I try not to, I am just curious to where they life and why they watch me? I mean I am honestly being stalked by a bird like not one but three( like the three musketeers). Their unique from others, creepy but who isn't, but the thing that fascinates me the most is the way they call to another. Each group has their own personal call that each understand while other birds have no idea whats being said. When one is in trouble or just want to have a conversation one starts and then others start to join in. Its just like how gossip and rumors start with one just talking and then more and more like a wild fire spreading. But these birds would never change they way they are, they don't care that they are strange or normal. That is what attracts people like me closer to them. Not someone whose fake and tries to fit in, they are the real deal and will always be the real deal no matter how much years pass.


The Cornell
of Ornithology:
All About Birds

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/california_guail/lifehistory