Re: silly question
Dona Patrick (dona@gateway.net)
Sat, 26 Sep 1998 23:23:54 -0400
Thanks to everyone for the messages addressing my fear of using binocs. in
my neighborhood. I think I knew the answers you gave me, but I needed
validation.
As for the chimney swifts in Delray, funny you should ask. I just returned
from an evening in Delray and did indeed see my old friends.
I have class at the Alexandria Campus of GW every other Saturday. Today
was one of the every other days. I had planned on staying in Alexandria a
little later and trying to see the chimney swifts. I had loaned my car to
a friend for the afternoon while I was in class and we had planned on going
out for a drink after. On the way home we stopped in my old neighborhood
(Delray) to chat with an old neighbor. The friend I was with is a
"non-birder. As an example of how much a non birder: she and I spent a
weekend in Cape May and after a walk around the boardwalk by the beach, she
asked, "Ok. Was that a bird walk I was on? Good, now I can check it off on
my list of things I never wanted to do, but did." Tonight was the same.
She sat in my car complaining of the bugs and humidity, saying that the
reason she is single is because she is sitting in an old Toyota on a
Saturday night waiting for birds to go into a chimney instead of going on a
date.
A few minutes later I noticed that the birds were really beginning to
circle. I talked her into getting out of the car and in a few more minutes
said, "There they go!" Well, my friend couldn't contain her excitement.
She kept on saying "Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh" She went from wondering what
it was like in the chimney to wondering when they came out in the morning.
She was hooked, for the moment...
Just wanted to share my excitement of sharing my hobby with someone who
usually doesn't care.
Dona
-----Original Message-----
From: Paula M. Sullivan <paulas@erols.com>
To: mdosprey@ARI.Net <mdosprey@ARI.Net>
Date: Friday, September 25, 1998 8:52 PM
Subject: Re: silly question
>Dona Patrick wrote:
>>
>> Ok. I have been meaning to ask this for some time now. Since I already
>> stuck my toe in the pond, so to speak, and found the temperature fine, I
>> will venture with what may seem trivial to many of you. Here goes---
>>
>> How does one get over the feeling of reverse paranoia when using
binoculars
>> in her backyard in the suburbs? I mean I feel funny running around my
yard
>> and neighborhood using my binoculars. I am worried the neighbors will
think
>> I am spying on them. (and I am not, HONEST) I have told every neighbor I
>> have talked to for more than 10 minutes that I am a birder (and put it in
>> the bi-yearly neighborhood directory). Do you think that is enough?
>>
>> Thanks for putting up with me.
>
>
>I'm with you, Dona. My neighbors think I'm a bit bonkers anyway, but I,
>like you have explained that if they see me with binoculars I'm looking
>at birds. Not once have I thought there was anything more interesting in
>their windows. It's true, you never know if they are planning to change
>the covenants to ban neighbors with binos. Not to worry. BTW, did you
>ever get over to DelRay to check out that chimney with the roosting
>swifts and your other favorite places?
>
>Paula Sullivan
>Alexandria, VA
>paulas@erols.com
>