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Predator

I’m not sure what species of dragonfly this is, but it certainly caught the attention of the northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). From the mockingbird’s perspective, their interaction seems to be going quite well!

"The Northern Mockingbird enjoys making its presence known. It usually sits conspicuously on high vegetation, fences, eaves, or telephone wires, or runs and hops along the ground. Found alone or in pairs throughout the year, mockingbirds aggressively chase off intruders on their territory." - allaboutbirds.org

Using the Force (and a bit of charm), I'm guiding you to my photo gallery at:

swede1952-photographs.pixels.c

#ScribesAndMakers 2504.04 — Can you handle praise well, or do you get embarrassed and play your achievement down? CW: self-analysis

Oddly enough, this devolves to gender roles and the confusion an autistic can discover in any social illogic. As a child, I quickly evolved into a listener, observer, and a pleaser with my shyness providing me an escape route from any confrontative situation—things I worked on (had to!) as I became an adult. Wanting to be an author is not entirely compatible with these personality traits regardless of gender—there is a definite forwardness and egoist nuance to insisting on communicating one's ideas—and I couldn't rely on others to meditate for me.

I got praise growing up, especially when doing well in school. Then again, my mother had me convinced I'd die if I didn't bring home top marks. I mostly got to hide from praise. It's not that I don't, didn't, like it, but I could better process it unobserved and generally make it appropriately and comfortably undeserved. A pleaser can't accept being pleased well!

Yeah, I got help. If you've heard of EST, I did that.

Now my reaction to praise is a Venn diagram of who, what, and where. If it is online, where nobody has to see me physically react, I'm a lot more copacetic with it. In person, it can be uncomfortable. I can still find ways to minimize the input but as I get older I'm better at fairly assessing my abilities. I do remember having this one fan at conventions that would greet me. She really wanted a sequel. Maybe she sensed I was shy, I don't know. But I grew to like her reminder.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

#BoostingIsSharing and #CommentingIsCool

#gender #fiction #writer #author #photographer #chef #cooking
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#RSdiscussion

Waters of Dawn

This image was captured about three years ago at a small, secluded pond on the outskirts of Albany, Georgia, hidden away between hotels. The original scene featured two birds: this immature white ibis (Eudocimus albus) and a great egret. However, in my mind's eye, I envisioned the ibis and the water isolated, just as they appear here.

If you enjoy wildlife and nature photography, check out my photo gallery here:

swede1952-photographs.pixels.c