This morning I was getting dressed upstairs and I heard a staccato tapping/rapping sound* coming from downstairs. I called out to Mrs. J., figuring either she was doing something or the dog was loose committing mischief, but got no answer.
I go downstairs after several minutes of this and see a medium-sized nondescript bird clinging to and pecking on the glass panel next to the front door. It sees me and after a bit, flies away. I tell Mrs. J. about this, and it turns out that the same bird appeared earlier at the back of the house, pecking at the living room window glass and also a glass pane in another door. Mrs. J. also informed me that according to legend in her family, having a bird do this meant someone in the house was going to die.
Now I know you bird-lovers will claim that the bird merely saw its reflection in the glass and was trying to drive off a competitor. But now I’m spooked. It may be that the assault on three separate glass panes means that me, Mrs. J. and the dog are all doomed.
What’s the time period we should be worrying about for bird-forecasted demise? A couple days? A week? If I’ve got to go, it should be before next weekend when I have to be on call. Is the bird any more reliable than Harold Camping?
*Incidentally, the Moon-Rays do a nice beat version of Poe’s “The Raven” which, if it comes up “accidentally” on my next Ipod shuffle session will convince me the end is at hand.
I just went outside, and there was a large greyish bird perched in a nearby tree going “eee-yahh, eee-yahh!!” When it saw me it took off, flew rapidly across the yard and disappeared.
Maybe the evil will be more widespread. I will be on the lookout for other portents, like mass movements of salamanders, the birth of two-headed babies etc.
Upon doing further research, it appears likely that this bird is the reincarnation of old-time baseball player Hughie Jennings (a former star for the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Superbas, who later managed the Ty Cobb-era Detroit Tigers). He was known for yelling “Ee-yah!” from the dugout in moments of excitment and for other antics like eating grass on the ballfield.
So, this means either that the Detroit Tigers will win the World Series this year, or that my lawn will die along with everyone in the house.
You can relax; your wife has the superstition all wrong. According to my mother, if a wild bird gets in your house, that means someone in that house is going to die. No, no one will die. You’ll just be tormented forevermore.
. . .
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. Surely,' said I, surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
‘Tis the wind and nothing more!’
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
. . .
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!
Mwuuuuaaahahahahaha
Huh, this sounds similar to a legend a friend has in his family.
If you hear 3 knocks in a window, that means that somebody is going to die. And that has happened before, or so they say.
He used to live in the country, so they were superstitious, bit he said that this has happened before.
And he said all this just after we heard a knock in the window.
