Story #2 April 6 Whippoorwill Day 2011

A note from Uganda:  I’m spending Whippoorwill Day 2015 in Uganda.

Lord willing, I’ll be on Crooked Bayou Louisiana for 2016’s Whippoorwill Day.

No whippoorwills here but several cousins, including the song of a dusky nightjar each morning and evening.

Since today is Whippoorwill Day in Louisiana, I believe you’ll enjoy this story.

If you’d enjoy my story,  “Whippoorwill Day” (from my book,  Wind in the Pines)

According to my great-grandmother Theodosia Wagnon Iles, you could always hear a whippoorwill calling on April 6.  Therefore, it’s Whippoorwill Day in the Piney Woods of Louisiana.

My roots: My great grandmother, Theodosia Wagnon Iles with her son, Lloyd Iles and my Aunt Margie on the piano. Circa 1950.
My roots: My great grandmother, Theodosia Wagnon Iles with her son, Lloyd Iles and my Aunt Margie on the piano. Circa 1950.

My grandson Jack and I spent the night in the woods last night.  It was a beautiful crisp clear night– the type where sound travels well.

Every dog in Dry Creek barked all night, especially when the coyotes began howling.  Even though it was cool, the frogs on the three ponds near us sang in the early part of the night.

During the night, I heard barred owls conversing in their eight-note song,  “Who cooks-for-you?-Who-cooks-for-you-all?”

As daylight neared, a pair of bluebirds officially opened the day, followed by a brave cardinal.

I snuggled down in my sleeping bag and listened out the tent flap when I heard it.  The distant call of a Poor-Will.

It wasn’t the loud three-syllable call of the Whippoorwill, but the softer shorter call of his rarer cousin, the Poor-Will.

It was good enough for me on Whippoorwill Day.  I looked at my sleeping grandson Jack (who will be four years old tomorrow) and thanked God for all of the many blessings of life:  poorwills and whippoorwills, cool nights, bright stars, grandma logs on the fire, and making memories with a grandson.

God is good.  He gives all good things to us.  Enjoy his blessings, especially the “priceless ones.”

C.I. 4/6/11

My greatgrandmother, Theodosia Wagnon Iles, with her sister Lou Wagnon and their mother, Sarah Lyles Wagnon. Dry Creek Old House circa 1910
My greatgrandmother, Theodosia Wagnon Iles, with her sister Lou Wagnon and their mother, Sarah Lyles Wagnon. Dry Creek Old House circa 1910

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