Almost every time I visit our land to enjoy the peace and quiet, I never fail to see a plane or a helicopter fly over. Sometimes helicopters will hover and fly back and forth and all around. This tells me they are probably looking for acreage to develop. One day I decided to send them a message.
I'd been thinking thought about the Thunderbird, oral stories that have been passed down through the centuries by Native Americans. One of the Thunderbird's meanings is that it is a protector and defender of nature. And I also thought about rocks. If you know anything about our Texas Hill Country, then you know that we have a whole LOT of limestone rocks.
With nothing but a rock rake, a five-gallon bucket, a wheelbarrow and a rock bar, I began work on my message – The Thunderbird. It had to be 40 feet by 40 feet in order to be seen by those flying over. It is strategically placed on the side of a hill that faces west. The wingspan is 40 feet and head to tail is 40 feet. The head faces north on a constant lookout for danger. The wing tips, which are orientated north to south, are slightly folded inward as if in preparation for an attack. The head is placed in an eastward position, and the whole body faces toward the west where the sun sets.
My hope is that when developers fly over this little piece of land, they'll see my Thunderbird and wonder. Who made that and why? What does it mean? I hope my effigy leads them to think about those who came before us and incorporate existing natural landscapes into their plans. I hope the spirit of my Thunderbird will enter their hearts and change their minds for the good of our Hill Country.
