The Best of Friends

By Birdie

This weekend my family suffered a blow when my daughter Alex (Baby Chick) went into our bird room and discovered that her bird, Nemo, had passed away in the night.  I know that not everyone can understand the bond that a person can have with a bird, but it’s real and just as tangible as a bond between someone and their dog.  That bond was so evident in Nemo and Alex’s every interaction.  She adored Nemo, and Nemo adored her.

nemo-love

Since the blog references my love of books but also my love of parrots I’d intended to include more about them.  I’d planned something tongue in cheek, sweet and funny, maybe poking fun at my feathered obsession. I wanted to write something individual, highlighting each one of them and their quirks, and personalities, with all sorts of fun pictures.  It breaks my heart that this is where I’m starting.

Nemo loved my daughter, millet, head scratches, and protecting the back of our couches from our mongrels.  She would spread her wings wide open and glare down at them looking as large as she possibly could, hissing if they got too close.  She would sit on my daughters chest and rest her tiny little beak against my daughters lips and close her eyes, just wanting to be close.  She had the softest feathers, almost like feathery rabbit fur, that shimmered in the light.  She was gentle, never biting if she could get away peacefully (which is a big deal, not all birds are like that).  And she had a special whistle that was only for my daughter.  When she ate her food she would pick it up in her beak, and then set it into a little bowl she’d created in one of her toys.  She was a dainty eater, unless it was sweet potatoes, and then she looked as if she’d bathed in it.

She was curious about everything, including my camera which is how we got this beautiful selfie.

funny-nemo

We will miss her every day, and feel her loss in our family forever.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run, fly, and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run, fly, and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he separates from the group, flying over the green grass, faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

Author unknown

beautiful-nemo

About Birdie

Don’t look for her in any bar, club, crazy raging party, or anywhere there may be a large gathering of strangers. She’s more likely to be found tucked into the corner of the couch watching one of her favorite shows, or preferably under a comforter with her current novel.

25 Responses

  1. storiesandspoons

    I’m so so sorry for your family’s (especially your daughter’s) loss. I don’t understand the loss of a bird as I have never had one but I do understand the deep bond that we grow with out pets and how devastating it is when we lose them. I lost my dog recently and I am heartbroken. It seems like your daughter’s relationship with Nemo was similar to that of me and my Jazz. I can fully imagine that a bond with a bird would be just as close as that of any other pet. Please give your daughter a big hug from me and know that she is not alone in the loss of a loved, curious little friend. xx Maddie

    Like

    1. Birdie

      Thank you so much, and you’re so right that even if people haven’t experienced bird ownership, most can understand the love of a pet. My intention wasn’t to be dismissive, but to note how we hear a lot of ‘it’s just a bird’, or ‘what fun is a bird’. Or, when I say we lost her there’s a disinterest. Even my daughter said, “Mom, if I tell people that she died and they say ‘get over it, it was just a bird’ will I get in trouble if I hit them”. Of course she was being sarcastic, but it just shows how that response is one she’s too aware of.

      Like

  6. Tiana

    I’m so saddened to hear about this. Birds are such wonderful, beautiful creatures. I’m sorry that she has passed on. Animals are our family members to loose one hurts deeply.

    Like

  9. Jazz

    I’m so sorry to hear of your family’s loss 😦 Our pets – be they birds, dogs, cats or hamsters – show us such fierce, unwavering love and loyalty and the bond shared with them is unlike anything people without pets can understand.

    It’s wonderful that you have so many happy memories, though. Nemo looked to be quite a character! Loving the selfie ❤

    Like

  10. Mandy

    I posted a comment earlier, but it seems that WordPress decided to skip it. D: Anyway, I’m so sorry for your loss. Pets are like family members, and when you lose one, it’s like losing another member. I’m so sorry again. 😦

    Like

  12. ~ Angie Elle ~

    So sad to hear about the loss of Baby Chick’s bird. I remember when I lost my first very own pet. It was devastating. He was a cat, but I was just as said when I found my mouse, Jenner dead with his head stuck in his wheel. God rest his soul.

    My thoughts go out to you all. 😦

    Like

    1. Birdie

      Thanks. Today was the first day she went back into the bird room. We moved our budgie, PeeWee, out of there the day Nemo died… because you’d be surprised how perceptive a bird is… anyway, and she was crying when she walked in the room. Poor thing. We’re going to do some rearranging. I think that will help.

      Liked by 1 person

Tell me something!

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.