Last Day At The Discovery Channel

Every day that I drove to work in the springtime, I used to see this red feathered hawk sitting on top of the telephone pole right next to the Discovery Channel. There are a lot of open fields and some wildlife in the area even though we're right at the edge of town. I see deer and even racoons out in the fields next to the facility from time to time. But, I always thought that it was cool that this hawk would just sit there, every single day, like he was the king surveying his lands, looking down for potential prey or maybe just watching the stupid humans getting around on the ground instead of just opening up their wings and lifting off.

I always wanted to get a picture of him sitting there overlooking his territory (of which Discovery Channel is most certainly a part). I'd imagine that he would be proud telling all the other hawks and lesser falcons that his holdings contained a broadcast center that brought in 11 million dollars a week. How many of his counterparts could equal the boast? And every day, I'd drive in at 4:45 PM, and like clockwork he'd be there. Sitting. Watching.

So, I went out and bought a camera thinking that I was finally going to get my picture of him. But, on the days when I remembered to put the camera in my glove compartment, I found that the hawk would strangely be absent. I tried for a few weeks to get my picture, but he was never to be found.

Later, I used the camera for something else and stopped carrying it around every single day. Like magic, the hawk returned to his rightful place atop the telecommunications lines. I'd like to say that he was doing it on purpose, but a king can't be troubled to worry about the needs of his peasants, and I'm sure that if I could only get his attention that he would allow me to capture his majesty and beauty for all of cyberspace to see.

But birds of prey don't care about cyberspace. Or television. Or papparazzi.

When summer came, I never saw him again. I looked every day for two months, but never once did he deign to make an appearance on his noble perch. I was certain that he had fled his kingdom to live in exile somewhere else, perhaps where the hunting was better or the ladies wore a little brighter plumage. After two months, I stopped looking for him. I only occasionally glanced at the telephone pole as I drove into work. He was gone. His spot...empty.

Today was my last day at Discovery and I felt like I could relate to my friend, the red-feathered hawk. It was my turn to fly away. It's my chance to look for better hunting and ladies with brighter plumage. And as I turned onto Shaw Rd. for the last time, there he was...mocking me. Of course, I didn't have my camera. And I smiled a gigantic smile and shook my head.

Bastard. He knew I didn't have it and he had to rub it in one last time. So, I guess I didn't get a picture of the beautiful hawk that perches right outside of the Discovery Channel. But I strangely find solace knowing he's there looking over the place, watching my friends come and go as they punch the clock and probably wondering why they spend all their time on the ground.

When the view up there is so much better.

(Good-bye and thanks to all my friends at Discovery. I promise to miss you and think about you often.)