Owls

Due to a popular fantasy book about a teenage wizard (ok, I'll stop sounding politically correct, I worshipped the Harry Potter series about as much as the Islamic religion studies the Qur'an), many may think that this blog has something to do with that. However, my affinity for a certain creature in this series has come from personal interest and emotional response from seeing such majestic creatures. No, it doesn't have to do with dragons or hippogriffs.

Yes, I did take this picture. Unfortunately, I have so far become acquainted with owls only during bird shows.

In Brasil, I lived in a small home that bordered a large field. At night, we saw silent, dark, almost ghost-like creators flying over this field back and forth in search of small prey. One of them decided to fly right over my head and into the back of the house. As it flew over, I could clearly see its face and dark, beady eyes for a split second. I couldn't believe such a beautiful and majestic creature could come so close to me. Until that moment, I had never seen an owl (I'm sure I did at the zoo, but I never have any memories of seeing one until that point). A few months later in a completely different city and state, I saw a different owl fly overhead, again making a split-second eye contact. It gave me the chills seeing such a beautiful bird flying silently over my head.

Turns out, I could (and hope) to take care of one someday. Most people start out by doing falconry, then they can expand and specialize in hawks, eagles, or even owls. If anyone has ever become familiar with any birds of prey, they know how amazing it is to see them and learn how they live,  and how amazing they are at flying.

Again, I got the picture from a bird show I attended.

The owl above is a barn owl. Out of all the owls, this one's flight is the most silent. It may seem like he doesn't have ears; however, he can hear best out of all the owl family. He is rare in Utah, but much more common up north. I hope someday I can have one living at or near my house. Some are bred in captivity, but most farmers up north can build a box for the owls to roost in and wait for the owl to come.

Anyways, I thought I'd share that life goal with you! If you ever see an owl near UT county, let me know. I'd love to learn how to see them around here.

Criticism

Yesterday I had a sad moment of irony. I was at a college up on Salt Lake shooting a promo for their new academic program (ps...It sounds cool, but I am totally not an actor; I'm merely an extra who looks college-aged). The building in Salt Lake was 10 floors, minus the parking structure. On our way down in the elevator from 9 to L, we stopped at almost every floor. Toward the bottom, the elevator was full. To all of us, it felt quite ridiculous when we stopped on floors 6, 5, 4...etc.

The third floor came up and all of us felt the familiar stopping sensation in our stomach. Under my breath, I exclaimed, "Now really, who needs to use the elevator for two floors! Wouldn't the stairs be better at this point?" Only three people closest to me heard. Luckily, they knew me, because what happened next painted me in a terrible light. Because, of course, who would try to enter the elevator so close to the lobby level? A skinny-legged college kid who's only mode of transportation was two 24' wheels attached to the side of his chair. He rolled toward the elevator, noticed how full it was, then slowly rolled backward to catch the next elevator. We watched the door close and continued on our way down, feeling that my prior comment was both unwarranted and grossly ironic.

I honestly think most inspirational speakers are in wheelchairs. They don't need to mention how hard life can be because we already imagine it ourselves when we see someone in that situation. However, they are inspirational because most don't curse their fate. Who could they criticize? All the people who park in their parking spots? Those who use the larger restroom/dressing room at the mall?

It seems like there are plenty of healthy, normal people who feel criticized and abused in the most minute ways (e.g. the media's coverage of certain events). They create criticisms and prejudices for themselves and their community/family/race/religion/anything really. We probably all fall into this category sometime in our lives.

Mark A. Hicks, illustrator