The first robin of the season

We have a contest in our family that has been around so long, I don't remember when it started. Whoever sees the first robin of the spring season...wins. You win nothing tangible, except for family honor of being able to say for an entire year that "you were the first".

My husband has not won for years. Come to think of it, I can't recall the last time he did win. Last year it was my son-in-law who saw the first robin when he was running early one spring morning (as they were visiting from New England).

This year my husband was determined it was going to be him. At one time, about five or six weeks ago, he called me to the window and told me he had seen the first robin. As I looked closer, I saw the usual family of cardinals who lived in that particular bush. I looked at the bush, looked back at him, looked back to the bush... "That's a female cardinal", said I. "No, it is a robin", lied he. "Female robins are not surrounded by six male cardinals!", spouted I...as I left the room, shaking my head in disbelief. Sheesh...

So this weekend, I wasn't surprised when he called me again to the window to show me...yes...a real robin. This particular robin had to be a male because he flew from the ground to the tree branch close to the window and strutted around so we could see him in full splendor. My husband told me the bird wanted to make certain we both saw him so he (hubby) could claim the rights to seeing the first robin. He also said something to the robin about owing him extra bird seed.

When my daughter called later in the day, her dad said to tell her the news, that HE had seen the first robin. She could hear him in the background but I did relay the message. She said to tell him it was no wonder he saw the first robin as he had been stalking the poor birds now for weeks.

He asked today how much bird seed costs. At least he is happy.