Elizabeth Keeler Robinson

Taking out the trash . . . there's nothing magical about that, is there? Well, magic sometimes appears when you least expect it.

I took the trash out a few nights ago. It was about nine o'clock and, since it's September, it was already dark. I was halfway to the trash can when I heard something. From high up in a tree, a Great Horned Owl was calling. A few seconds later, another owl replied from just across the creek. Then the two of them had quite the conversation while I stood on the driveway and listened.

Every species of owl has its own unique call. The Great Horned Owl's call is one long hoot, followed by two short quick ones, then two more long ones: hooooo hoo-hoo hooooo hooooo. It is as clear as can be, and it's beautiful to hear.

The funny thing is that I'm working on a story about a girl named Minerva Sinclair who loves owls. In one scene, Minerva hears a conversation between two Great Horned Owls, just like the one I heard on my driveway the other night. Minerva described the whole experience as"pure, grade-A magic" - and she was right. Listening to owls calling to each other in the dark is magical.

Our world is a pretty amazing place. See what you can find the next time you have to take out the trash. Maybe it will be something magical!