The long flight home: Return of eagles and hawks send comforting message amid grieving

This year has been far from stellar for me.

Nearly five months ago, my mom died from cancer after a year and a day of fighting a disease that took everything from her. By the time I made the 2,000-mile journey from Montana to my home state of Vermont, her soul had already wandered off, leaving only an unresponsive shell that would never wake or say goodbye.