When I was a young bird,  I was an eagle flying high in the sky, I was a flamingo, a peacock arrayed in all of my finery, I was the strongest, the wisest, a Peregrine falcon the fleetest of wings,  a Tundra  swan able to travel thousands of miles unerringly every year to brave the cold and survive any hardship.

Then came mates, nests, eggs, dozens and dozens of them over the years.

I realized I was no longer the high-flying eagle, the one with the finest plumage, or fleet or strong, I was a dad. Nothing more, nothing less. It was enough. I wouldn’t trade any of it for any amount of treasure. I see my offspring occasionally now. Some are still being eagles, some have mates and eggs of their own. This gives me pleasure. I look at them and I see a part of me flying up there. It makes me happy and a little sad. Life changes, we change but one thing stays the same, we’re still fathers and always will be. It’s enough.