Grateful Life

By Maggie Xu, Sarratoga, California, U.S.

“Maggie, hurry, hurry! Come downstairs to watch the bird bathing!” I heard my mom calling eagerly.

I don’t remember when my dad put a big, uniquely decorated bowl on the tea table in our backyard. The bowl was filled with water; an image of jade fish swimming inside. My mom discovered the birds stopping by. At first, they just stood on the edge drinking some water. Gradually, as they flew into the yard, they became more courageous, landing on top of the fish’s back, beating the water as they bathed themselves with joy. When they are bathing, they convey their happiness to us with each splash of water.

Before the pandemic, we rarely paid attention to this. Now, we watch it over and over, enjoying the moment. Ironically, we are now like birds in a cage, envying the freedom of others in the outside world.

It’s hard to imagine that we have remained in this pandemic for more than one year. I still remember March 16 of last year, when the San Francisco shelter in place order was given. Our lives totally changed. Without the chitter-chatter of friends by my side and the rush of scurrying between classes, my face was now focused on the computer. Sitting in my room feels a little bit strange during remote learning, but I like the quiet moments that make me more attentive.

My dad, a dancer, also started teaching online, even though he thought it was impossible to teach dance that way. He used to go to the studio every afternoon and come back home late at night. We wouldn’t eat dinner with him, but now, we eat together every day. I realized that the previous dining table without dad felt deserted.

Watching the news every day, the stream of COVID deaths makes me realize the impermanence of life. I am sorry for families who have lost loved ones, but it reminds me to cherish the moment and the lives spent with our loved ones.

Staying at home also meant no more PE classes. I started to go into the backyard to do some exercises.

“Wow! How long has it been since I stood in the back yard?” I wondered.

I found a lot of surprises that I previously ignored. The air in the yard is so fresh, emitting the scent of grass; the melodic sounds of birds chirping is there. There must be a lot of content in the dialogue between them, but I never noticed it before.

Locked at home, the pandemic brought my family and me back to the happiness that is always around us, but that we failed to see. It taught me to cherish love and affection, to slow down, and to discover the beauty of birds bathing.