The Empty Nest

by Lisa Baye Kaye

Photos by Lisa Baye Kaye and Hannah Serena Kaye

I saw this scene in my mother’s garage by the recycling bin. The simple beauty of the bird nest and dirt glazed gloves shaped to guide a precious object filled my imagination and heart thinking of all the journeys people take when they leave the nest...

Can you see how carefully the nest is constructed and imagine the time and energy put into creating it? A twig, a stick, a straw piece of grass pulled from all over the land to build this home of love. Its beauty is in the construction and the delicate nature of holding the eggs. Its strength is evident and perfectly inspiring. 

Do you see the dirt covered gloves covered looking like they are holding the heart and spirit of someone they love? Positioned to help, to guide, to let go as needed or to embrace as needed? The dirt that has come from hard work connecting to the Earth and the sweat that goes with that creation?

I think of all the little children going off to school for the first time, or the ones flying the nest and leaving home. I think of the ones learning to fly for the first time or the ones flying home for a visit. With a heavy heart, I think of the ones who left the nest under terms that all parents hope will not happen. I think of those who tried to build a nest and nature just did not work that way for them. Those who lost the egg before it was born or the nest emptied before the right time. I think of those proud to see their child fly and those still hoping for lift off due to circumstances not expected.

But…right now I think of my mother who still tends her garden at 87 years of age. She had to flee her nest in Germany and escape from Hitler at a time where she never got a childhood. I am filled with abundance and gratitude that despite that experience she always found the strength to build new nests and find beauty and peace in nature.

Lisa Baye Kaye wrote "The Nest" story for all the people who are feeling the "empty nest" as children start the new school year or life journeys. She also wanted to honor two young adults who recently passed away unexpectedly (Jaimie and Tony).  

 

Lisa Baye Kaye is an amateur photographer who finds beauty in nature by closely observing the simple surrounding of everyday life. This purposeful act of paying attention to the magic of her daily surroundings has inspired her photography, writing and poetry.   

Her teen daughter, Hannah Serena Kaye has acquired the family love of art , photography and nature that has been passed down by many generations. Hannah Serena Kaye’s art has been exhibited in libraries, hospitals and art shows since childhood.