20 Comments
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Joey Held's avatar

This was so much fun, thanks, Amanda! The Bird Bet is way more majestic than the influx of crickets we get here every spring and summer.

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Paige Okun's avatar

I read the title and thought...oops she did it again :)...love the feathered thread. Apparently, this has been a subconscious thing for a long time...perhaps you should explore childhood bird adventures and to discover your origin story. Look forward to reading the next one.

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Mark Jaffe's avatar

I think you came close to winning the Bird Bet when you almost struck it with your sandwich.

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Iris Nagler's avatar

Amusing!

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Amanda Jaffe's avatar

Thank you!

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Good Humor by CK Steefel's avatar

We need to implement the Bird Bet onto bank CEOs. I will pay my mortgage if you touch a bird, better yet, a humming bird. Hehe. I miss games we played with our kids.

Beautiful piece.

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Amanda Jaffe's avatar

I might take that Bird Bet! Happy new year!

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Ofifoto's avatar

Does bird poop count as being "touched?" Been there, copped that.

*Loved* this, especially the description of a foreign language as being "accessible (on the) surface while the true life of the language lies underneath" and experiencing the wonder of travel, and of life.

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Joey Held's avatar

I remember walking with a few friends and heard one behind me go, "Of course!" I turn around and there's a bird poop on his forehead! Alas, wouldn't win the Bird Bet.

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Amanda Jaffe's avatar

Sorry, actually touched. By a actual bird! Thank you, Ofifoto!

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Ofifoto's avatar

A wondrous game, nonetheless!

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Chris Stanton's avatar

I love the idea of the Bird Bet. It MIGHT be a little easier to win now that there are cameras everywhere. If you can convince the police, a shopkeeper, or a homeowner to let you check the footage, that is.

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Amanda Jaffe's avatar

On it, Chris!

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Julie Neches's avatar

Love the Bird Bet! I want to play too. Perhaps I'll be touched by a bird. Even better to play the game in Italy! Maybe the bird that makes contact will be the descendant of a bird that touched Michelangelo. I hope so!

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Ed's avatar

This was terrific. I especially like "turning the prosaic into prose."

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Amanda Jaffe's avatar

Thank you, Ed!

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Amanda Jaffe's avatar

My family would conveniently be looking the other way, Tim. Or they'd ask why I decided to attack the bird....

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Tim Burns's avatar

LOL well that seems about right for family. :-) But we believe you!

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Matthew G. Nagler's avatar

Never read this one before. I think it's your most mystical. I really like it. I wish I could attach a photo because a friend from Austin just posted on Strava a photo she took of a mural with a dove flapping its wings above the words "Si se puede." This seemed right on point.

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Tim Burns's avatar

Nice to revisit some classics once in a while! And I have one way you might win your bet: gather your family next to a trampoline so they can be witnesses. Then climb on the trampoline, which is next to a purple martin house. then proceed to jump on said trampoline. it works; i still have the scar on my head to prove it. :-)

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