Did you see the eagles?

I run. No, I'm not a runner, but I am one of those people who match sneakers with spandex on and hit the pavement. I have zero gift for it and I've been told I really look quite miserable while doing it. Now I don't love it, but I enjoy it. I am just not a natural.

Today during my run in a local park, I plodded along with ACDC blasting through my Ipod with I'll admit, probably one of those horribly miserable looks plastered on my face. Passing a man, I noticed he seemed to be trying to say something to me over Highway to Hell pumping in my ears. Out popped the earphones and I stopped.

The jolly elderly man, who in his bright red winter coat and hat was Santa Clause without the beard, pointed to the top of a totem pole in the center of the park. "Did you see the eagles up there?"

Sure enough, I looked and there were 2 bald eagles perched on the top, which according to Santa was very rare to see. He also pointed behind us to another, younger eagle who wasn't quite bald yet, getting harassed by 3 crows in a tree. Crows are mean!

Santa and I shared a moment, watching the birds before I wished him an good day. Smiling now I picked up the pace again, but I'll have to blame him for how slow my average pace became for today's workout. Not because I stopped to chat, but because he reminded me to look around and take in those sites we forget to see.

Suddenly, for the rest of my run I kept seeing birds! Not Hitchcock's version, more like a Disney sing along. They were everywhere! In a bush, souring over head, on the water, sitting on a frozen swimming pool and fighting over a twig. Everything from the eagles to crows, sparrows and seagulls. And thanks to Santa and his birds, I'm sure I no longer looked miserable.