My Christmas Card

The pros and cons of sending cards has been blipped around for the past couple of weeks. I was out of town last week, and almost skipped it. For me, I guess it wouldn't be Christmas without them.

Here's the inside of the card.

La Jolla, California is the winter home to hundreds of brown pelicans. With effortless grace they fly just above the ocean's surface by alternating a powerful wing stroke with a lengthy glide.
This pelican pair flew in tandem directly over my head. Talk about up-close and personal. Their wings moved in unison, and their bodies seemed mere inches apart. This kind of flying takes communication, timing, and a whole lot more.
Especially impressive is the "V" formed by flocks traveling longer distances. One bird takes the lead, setting the pace and the direction. He tackles greater air resistance and must work harder. When the "first bird" tires, another moves to the front. And so it goes, pelicans synchronizing their movements - taking turns and working together. Such synergy.
In 2009, the brown pelican was taken off the endangered species list. Imagine the number and variety of people it took to make this happen. Such synergy.