45. That Cardinal Call

Tonight I was sitting on my couch wondering what to write about when I heard a familiar little sound. A bird out my window was making a three-part call.

cheer, cheer, cheer

Too-weet? Too-weet? Too-weet?

There is a very specific and weird reason that I like this bird call. And that’s because my dad used to whistle this call. He didn’t seem to do it for any specific reason. It’s just something he used to do. We’d be walking along and out it would pop.

 My dad was full of funny little catch-phrases or song-snatches:

-Let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy rainy day

-Louder and funnier!

-This is my best day

-And everyone’s favorite: Laugh now child, for soon you will be cleaning the guinee pig cage with your lips

So whenever I hear that familiar little cardinal call I like to pause. To think of my quirky, sweet dad and his random sayings. And to remember that this is life. Here we are!