I rose from my bed a little later than usual this morning. As I passed through living room on my way for coffee, I heard a fluttering to my left. From the corner of my eye, I saw a shadow flit across the room, but when I turned my head for a better look, nothing was there.
I walked into the kitchen and heard the fluttering again - this time I saw it; a beautiful red cardinal flew to the kitchen window and perched on the sill. Now, where did he come from and how did he get in my house? All of the doors and windows were closed and locked last night.
I went to the back door and opened it to let the bird out, but it would not fly toward me. So, I returned to the kitchen to shepherd him toward the door. Instead, he flew to the front, banging against the window above that door then perching in the corner. I opened the front door, but the Cardinal only flew back into the kitchen.
I left the doors propped open that he may make his escape and proceeded to make my cup of coffee. When I turned, he was gone - presumably having flown out of one of the doors.
They say that when a cardinal appears it is a visit from a relative long gone. If true, I say thank you for stopping by. You made my day.