I was really stuck recently with a writing project- totally lost-  and I was pissed because it was Father's Day- which I usually hate because that's the day my Dad died.  So I decided to take my dog for a walk and see if I could clear my head.

After a few blocks, I came up on a church.  It was the same church where my Dad spoke for his mother's funeral.  But I hadn't been in there since, which was 1985.  I was really getting sad about Dad and thought that going into a church would help- maybe getting on my knees and praying would be good for me?  I wanted to feel close to God- so I figured being inside a church is a good way to accomplish this. 

I tied the dog up and went to the door.  I put my hand on the knob, and was shocked to find that it was LOCKED.  Now I know I haven't gone to church in a long time, but why would it be locked on a Sunday afternoon?  Come ON! I started banging on the door- and then the tears started to flow.

"God!  What gives?"   

I sat there feeling defeated- and reached to untie my dog.  As we walked a couple of feet away, he decided to relieve himself by taking a huge dump on the grass.  I reached down to grab it, while wiping my tears, and headed for the garbage cans behind the church in the alley.

As I went to put the baggie in the garbage- I saw a beautiful red cardinal on the fence just a foot away from me.  

"CHEEEP!!  CHEEEP!!"

He was so in my face, I stopped in my tracks.  In the past, Cardinals have always been my signal for my Dad sending a "wink" from the Other Side.  But I really got the message:  "You don't have to go in the church to find me, Jen.  I'm right here- whether it's in the alley, or in the pews.  You can always find me."

As I headed home, I started to doubt my Cardinal sighting.  "Maybe it was just a coincidence?"  

A moment later, my dog decided to take ANOTHER crap.  Thankfully, I was armed with another bag, and I walked it over to a differemt alley to throw it out.  As I reached the garbage can, there again was another bright red Cardinal just inches from my hand.

"CHEEP!! CHEEP!!" 

I was so startled- it almost made me gasp.

"Okay, okay- I get it... It was you- not a coincidence!"

 My Dad always DID have a thing for toilet humor.  

When I got home- I headed up to my computer.  I wrote for three hours straight- with no blocks- and plenty of ideas.

Thanks Dad.  You always were a great writer....