John Nieman 
The Owl and The Christmas Tree 

Last year, for the 89th time. a large Christmas tree was erected overlooking the skating rink at Rockefeller Center. As a longtime resident of NYC, I would often see the ’lighting of the tree.’

This year was different. Before the lights were switched on, a helpless small owl was discovered in the upper branches by a worker called Gus. He rescued the creature and within days, the owl (renamed Rocky) was on every front page and TV network.

Gus, the good samaritan drove the owl back to his home county in NY to release him back in the wild. Again, there were many spectators.

As the story unfolds, Rocky became acclimated again in the countryside and did witness the TV lighting of the tree from an open window.

Merry Christmas to all.