ESL Blogs

I live in a rural area of Northern California. In my opinion, it's one of the most beautiful and majestic places on the planet. My property closely borders this large lake. https://www.google.com/search?q=folsom+lake+images&hl=en&newwindow=1&rlz=1C2GGGE_enUS468US468&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=pCIlUebnNIzuigKX4oDYBg&ved=0CDMQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=667 

The town is located about thirty miles east of Sacramento. Sightings of wild deer, turkeys, and coyotes, are not uncommon. There are many other wonderful animals that call this environment their home and help to contribute to the local ecology of the landscape.

Not far from my home, a rather large and eagle like predatory bird roosts and nests in a pine tree. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_Hawk#Description

Recently, I was enjoying a sunny afternoon off from work and posting humorous comments in English Club Main Chat while outdoors on a lawn chair. Suddenly, I hear the sound of a bird's wings and feel an unfamiliar wind in my face. The hawk swooped down directly over my head and plucked a mouse from my lawn that was less than ten feet away from me. As this beautiful yet, fierce predator flew past me, it's head turned and looked me directly in the eye.

Personally, I wasn't quite sure of what to think. Should it have scared me or made me laugh? A combination of both entered my mind as I dropped the laptop and ran for cover. This was something that I'd never had such an intimate encounter with in all my years of living here.

The lesson that came to my own mind was this, "Life is always full of wonderful surprises. Never close your eyes to what this earthly existence has to offer.".

Keep learning my friends.