Official Bird

As I’ve mentioned before, we now live in a gated community with armed security. I’m not sure if the guards are to keep people out or keep people in. The majority of the people here are retired, although it is not a "retirement" community. But, I have noticed that as old as I am, I am a youngster here.

The "compound" as I refer to it, has its own flag, which stays at half mast all the time because someone dies every week. I think they draw numbers to see who’s going to be next.

It appears that the official tree is any kind of oak. The only requirement is that said oak must produce a minimum of one million pounds of acorns per year, and enough leaves to cover the entire property to a dept of 100 feet.

There may not be an official flower, or at least I haven’t discovered it yet. Since we live near the rose capital of East Texas, I would have guessed roses, but apparently not. I do know that it is not sun flowers.

And then, there is the official bird - remember we have a lot of really old people. We have hawks, eagles, and millions of mockingbirds, but they did not make the cut. I found out last night at a social event, the official bird is a care flight helicopter. They land right on the golf course and haul folks away.

A lot of people here refer to this place as a paradise to enjoy while waiting for the final one.

I now sleep with one eye open, watching for that bird.

PMO
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