My father loved birds.  Every morning he’d sit in his wheelchair and meditate by the window observing these beautiful creatures.  Hummingbirds were among his favorite, and anytime I see one I feel a connection to him. These mystical birds generally symbolize vitality, joy, renewal, sincerity, peace, as well as persistence, agility, playfulness, loyalty, and affection- all traits that remind me of my father.  On the one-year anniversary of his passing, I awoke to discover a hummingbird had flown into the house and could not find his way out. Eventually, the poor thing tired out, and perched himself on the door ledge to regain his energy. When I reached up, the little hummingbird allowed me to hold him. I walked outside to set him free, but the bird stayed resting in my hand for a while. So for a few minutes before flying onto his next adventure, I got to treasure this gift, a beautiful reflection of my father’s intense journey.

Humming Bird Joe from Julie Wions on Vimeo.