Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: death

I just couldn't get to sleep last night and ended up getting up around 4:00 a.m. and turning on my computer. I was feeling very worried about my brother in Birmingham, England, as no one had received a Christmas card from him or an e-mail for about a month. My oldest daughter hadn't been able to contact him by phone over Christmas, either. So, I decided to e-mail two wonderful, long-time girlfiends who live in Birmingham, to see if they had heard from John, which they hadn't. I went back to bed, sure I wouldn't fall asleep, which I didn't. About 7:30 a.m., I had a dreaded phone call, from a very kind Policewoman in Birmingham, letting me know that my brother (aged 61) had died, at home. He lived alone. She had not been given any details yet, so I have to wait to hear more. I don't know who called the Police, but I am thankful that they did. The Policewoman didn't know when John had died (from Angina, I suspect), but I think it may have been just after his last e-mail to me, on November 26th. John led such a healthy life-style, eating very healthily and enjoying his walks, but genes sometimes just win! I have no idea how I will deal with all this - that is one problem when family members live across the world from each other. I haven't flown anywhere since 1978 and haven't been anywhere in all that time, so, at the moment, this feels like one unbearable nightmare to me. John was my only sibling and neither of my parents is alive. Also, my own health is at its lowest in many years, so the awful possibility of having to travel fills me with dread. As with everything, though, one seems to eventually get through these very tough times. I will probably keep posting on Flickr, as this always feels a comforting place to be, and it will perhaps take my mind off everything else for a little bit at a time. Please bear with me if I don't do as much commenting as I would like.

I was unbelievably saddened this morning when I read on friend Art's (LeapFrog!) photostream that Phoenix, the young Bald Eagle on Hornby Island (off the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada), had died, at 76 days old. So many people have been watching this amazing story unfold over the last few months, thanks to the webcam that Doug and Sheila Carrick have so kindly and generously provided, not just this year, but for some time. This pair of Eagles have been observed laying eggs in this nest since 1990, so they are at least 25 years old. Phoenix was almost ready in the coming week to make her very first "flight" to a nearby branch, but instead, she will now be flying "over the Rainbow Bridge", in endless skies and sunlight. A handful of years, and she will have become a beautiful adult like the one in my image, taken at the Calgary Zoo. For those of you who find yourself becoming very attached to a wild creature, you will understand just how close that bond can become. I know I will never look at a majestic Bald Eagle in the same way again. Watching daily as this tiny "ball of fluff with the big feet" grew and grew to almost the size of her parents, the care with which the adults fed and looked after their little one was heart-warming and impressive. I have found myself sometimes thinking, as I watched the webcam, that if only every single human child could receive such caring, the world would be a much better, happier place! This family of Bald Eagles had (and will continue to have) so much to teach us, including that Nature can be sad, too - but Nature usually does such a good job of balancing its own without human interference. My heart goes out to Mom and Dad Eagle and to Doug and Sheila, who have enabled us to witness (yet again) both the miracles and sadness of Nature. Thanks also to all the followers who have kept us all up-to-date on the Hornby Island website forum - you must all be sharing the same deep sadness today. A few moments ago, we saw an experienced tree climber (Dan Hamilton), who had been specially called in as fast as possible, reach the nest and bring Phoenix down so that a necropsy can be performed and important information can be shared. R.I.P., young Phoenix. Sorry, I've ended up swamping you with my photos, today ...