August 20th, 2023

This is the story of a Crow and a Bluebird. They exist and flourish in a place called “Ealum.” These recollections come about through chance, and over a long period of time. These revelations, this epiphany, took over forty years to form. We think of epiphanies as sudden occurrences. But sometimes, they build and develop slowly over the decades, until they bubble to top of our consciousness demanding to finally be heard.

Ealum is a place much like “Oz.” In fact, “The Wizard of Oz” is an inspiration for this story, at least for the musical part of it, and a little more, maybe. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is a lovely song with serious and deep implications which affect our journey on this adventure which we call “life.” Unlike Oz, Ealum is a real place. It still exists, whereas Oz never did. My grandmother was born there, in Ealum, not Oz) many years ago. Her name can be found in the census of 1900, in this place known as Ealum. She was a nine-year-old girl then. A long time ago, indeed!

I won’t recount the story of the Wizard of Oz. I think we all know it pretty well by now. But I will return to it from time to time, if I see a relevant connection to the Crow and the Bluebird, and, of course, to Ealum, itself. Because there is a parallel, an overlapping, of the two places.

They are both creations of the mind. Yes, Ealum is a real community, verified by the turn-of-the-century government census. But there’s another Ealum. One of memories long-gone, but one which still lives and thrives in the heart and core-being of this writer.

Why should my “Ealum” mean anything to you? Simply put, because you probably have your own Ealum. I want to think that we all do. If any one of us doesn’t have an Ealum, allow me to become a teacher for a split-second. I’m not here to instruct, to preach or tell anyone what they should do in their life. When it comes to “having an Ealum”, I really don’t think any requirement or test is needed. My Ealum came to me gradually over time, as I expect yours will come to you. It will be given birth as you live your daily life. Like an embryo, like an egg nestled in a cozy, straw nest, waiting to be nurtured by its eager mother; it will feel the warmth and love of life itself! Your Ealum will be created, with or without your collaboration. If it isn’t, well, let’s don’t go there. This story is about remembrance, love, and gratefulness, not the absence of those things.

The Crow and the Bluebird are two very unlikely friends. The Crow is mysterious, maybe even mercurial. He’s very intelligent. Scientists have studied him and concluded that the Crow can understand human language. He can recognize people by their faces and remember if a certain person was kind or mean to him. I often refer to him as the “Dark Sir.” He definitely deserves my respect!

Then, there’s the happy Bluebird. The one from “Over the Rainbow” fame. You know, the one who really can fly over the rainbow. Dorothy wants to be like them. She can’t understand why she can’t fly so high. At the end of the movie, she understands better, why. The Bluebird remembers, he’s thankful, he’s full of love and he becomes the Happy Bluebird. That’s why he can fly so high and see so far below. He is happy with contentment because of these lessons he’s learned from living. He sings about his newfound wisdom. To quote the old saying, “On a clear day, you can see forever!”