Did you remember your Mother yesterday? Even if she is not with you, there is no excuse for not thinking about her. I thought it would be appropriate to visit the rookery at the St Augustine Alligator Farm in celebration of bird Mothers Day. This time of year the Great Egret chicks are about half grown and soon will fledge. The Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks eggs are also hatching. Snowy Egrets and Tricolored Herons are sitting on eggs. A whole new generation is about to take wing.

Roots and Wings is a recent hit on the country charts (the only kind of music by the way). Our parents and ancestors gave us roots. Some roots are deeper than others. I knew very little of my “roots” so when a nephew asked me where we came from I had some digging to do. I discovered my paternal ancestor to America was a German Hessian Soldier who came in 1776 and was captured and imprisoned at the battle of Saratoga. While in prison he was persuaded to “switch sides”, was given land for service, and remained in America. Sadly, he was not allowed contact with his roots in Germany after that. So he established some new ones here. He settled first in the Shenandoah Valley area. He then moved to near present day Greenbrier West Virginia, where he married and had eight children before settling finally in Madison County Ohio about 1815. His farm is still there today. On my maternal side I was able to trace my roots back to the Mayflower to Governor William Bradford. How far can you trace your roots?

I have my roots established. Now I am waiting for my wings. Oh, I “left the nest” early and thanks to the Navy as my wings; saw a lot of this world. But someday soon I am going to mount up with “Wings as Eagles”. Then I will really be able to travel. How bout you? Be blessed. Harry

Reflections on Broward is now "Mountain Musings"

Roots and Wings...