Maybe We Do Know

For the past week, and probably longer, I have taken notice of a cardinal who just sits on a branch near my bedroom window.

I know the mystique of the cardinal and what it means to see one repeatedly but this bird was peculiar for some reason. On this day I am writing, he stared at me in the window. As if he was some sort of spy. Or peeping Tom and even typing that makes me laugh.

He just stared.

An hour later, I have to leave and  go to the store and as I pull out of the driveway, there this bird sat on the mailbox.  A most peculiar spot to perch but he just sat there and as I left, he flew off.  

An hour later, I am walking out of the store, I see this guy heading straight for me and he is waving me down.  This should be interesting because usually, I would act as if I didn’t see him.  
“Hey man, is your name Joe?”
“Yes, it is. How are you?”
“Is your mom’s name, Marjie?”
Random since my mother passed away 9 years ago.
“Yes, yes it is. Why?”
“I was her physical therapist when she was in rehab and I was just thinking about her and was wondering how she was doing, actually just today.  She was spunky and had a lot of fire and was so much fun. And then, I look up and there you are.”

Amazing.   You ever feel as if in the middle of the day, you are in a dream and not quite sure what is going on? Well, I did at this time.  His name was Heath and we talked for a few more minutes and I thanked him for remembering my mom in such a sweet way.

I leave the store and the whole drive back, I am thinking about how surreal this day had been so far.  A guy who I vaguely remember, thinking about my mom, and we run into each other?  That cardinal following me all morning long?  I am not sure what I expected when I got back home.  

I went into the house, put my things away and looked out the window and no cardinal.  Dang.  I go back down to my car to grab something else and l looked on the mailbox to see and nothing is there.  Okay, now this was all a dream and I am losing my mind.  I turn around to walk back in and sitting on the trash can, in the garage, was a cardinal.  A big bright red cardinal.  

Not sure if it was the same one but does that matter?  As I approached, the bird did not move.  I told him about the chance encounter at the store and meeting Heath.  It just sat there.  I reached into my car to grab something, and still talking, I turned around and the cardinal was gone.  

I sat there and tried to process all that had happened.  I asked myself, what does it all mean?  You just never know.  Or maybe we do.  
@BIGJOEONTHEGO