Coach Prime was just quoted upon Shilo’s release from the NFL, “He’s my son, I’m proud of my kids, all of them, and I prepared my kids for any and everything that could possibly happen in life and in sports.” Later he was quoted as saying, “Thank God that God prepared him for everything he’s dealing with,” he said. “I mean, I think a lesser man would have crumbled. But he’s been built for this, and who else is built for the adversity like he is? Like, going into the NFL? I don’t think it’s too many quarterbacks that have (been) built like that for the adverse situations and not having the best of things to happen around him.”
That reminded me of my falconer friend, Hal Webster, who trained falcons much of his life and is one of the most published authors on the subject. He also trained falcons for flight with lures, kites, balloons, etc. The parents will catch small prey—like a dove—and begin flying past the cliff, trying to entice the young chick, which by this point is usually between 48 and 55 days old. They gradually stop feeding the chick, teasing it instead to encourage it to take flight. Once the fledglings finally launch into the air, a graceful aerial dance of food exchanges begins. As the young birds build muscle and confidence, the parents continually raise the challenge, pushing them to refine their skills. The falconers mimic this training process, now with drones, but they used to use balloons or kites to dangle the bait. He introduced me to Gene Johnson and several other amazing falconers. Gene was also quite the artist as you can see from one of his works below.
I did a very good job of preparing our daughter for life. She can write a check for her lease, balance a checkbook, drive a 40′ horse rig, change her tire and oil, and talk about anything and everything with executives to the landscapers. She can weld, make Navajo jewelry, paint landscapes, wind a Rolex, or do your math homework for you. She is resilient, anti-fragile, and well prepared for most every task life could throw at her, as it has already thrown her more than her fair share of difficult challenges.
It’s bittersweet, raising a bird and then feeling the thrill of helping it launch to fly it’s own life, but it’s a necessary part of their development and progression into becoming who they will be. And, she is very successfully prepared for most anything life can throw at her, so I did my job well.
You’re not an empty nester. You’re a bird launcher. Celebrate your successes and theirs, as you’ve raised one who is ready to fly on their own, and now it’s your turn to soar sometimes with her and sometimes without her.
