The closer Samhain came, the less certain our plans seemed, but I felt driven to take this photo to this Falconer. I even bought a frame for it to present it in. Finally, a few days before Samhain, we finalized our plans. We stuck with my instincts and off to the Ren. Fest. we went early in the morning on October 31st. We watched the Birds of Prey show, took more pictures, and waited for an opportunity to speak to the falconer who was busily answering questions and posing for pictures with one of his birds after the show. Once the bird started getting restless, he sent him back to his house to rest and the crowd finally started thinning out. We took the opportunity then to give him our picture, along with a little collage of photos of a few of his other birds that I had put together as well.

I wasn't quite prepared for the emotional response that we received... It turns out that this particular bird (named Cappuccino) had recently passed away and they didn't have any nice photos of her. I had been so nervous about giving him the photo that I hadn't given much thought to why I hadn't seen her in the show this year. Hearing that she had passed, and how grateful he was to receive this photo really touched me (it nearly brought me to tears on the spot). Walking away that day, I knew... this was why I HAD to go back, and this was why I HAD to give him that photo.

I believe we cross paths with others for a reason. We don't always know that reason, or the impact those moments have on their lives... But sometimes, the reasons are right in front of us, and we get to see how we have an impact, right then and there.

I was greatly blessed by this experience, and I hope he was too. I'll never forget Cappuccino and her grace either. Her photo hangs in my living room still.