Beginning Again
My Mom stayed for another week after we took Philip to live with Sam, and we put in a whole new front garden. It was intentionally timed to be a productive distraction for me, and it did give me something new to build and to nurture. But now it was two or three weeks down…
Along Came Sam
I walked up to the counter at the vet where I boarded Philip. The place had a good vibe. They had a Timnah Grey named Wilbur who lived in the waiting area, and of course, I had to practice my bird whisperer on him. The staff always seemed happy about what they were doing, and…
To Love is to be Vulnerable
CS Lewis has a famous quote from The Four Loves that begins with “To love at all is to be vulnerable …” He says that if you want to protect yourself, you can’t love anything at all, not even a pet, especially not a parrot. (I may have added the last bit.) It’s not just…
Seasons
Early on in our relationship, I discovered that Philip liked riding in the car. That was a real gift, since not all parrots do. Some even get car sick. Not Philip. He would chatter and look out the window and play with his toys. One time I felt little splashes of water coming from behind…
Toddler and Teenager
A couple of years ago I had a friend come and stay at my apartment. As a bird owner, it is always a good idea to make sure that your guests are ok with a feathered house companion. Some people are not. But she was up for it, and proved it by bringing Philip a…
The Office
I was sitting at my computer working on emails when I heard the scuff, scuff, scuff of nails on the plastic mat under my chair. I hear a “hellooooo” coming from the general vicinity of my feet. I look down to see a little grey head staring up at me. Once Philip mastered his ladder,…
Down the Ladder and Beyond
A few months ago I taught Philip a new phrase. It was a simple one: “wanna come?” I would say it to him in the evening after supper when I was ready to take him with me to the office. The office is his favorite room in the whole house, so he was always willing…
First Time Mom
I have never had children, but they say that having a parrot is the next closest thing. Based on my experience, I am inclined to think that the survival of the Mom in the first year is a greater miracle than the survival of the child. It brings to mind the cartoon of the happy,…
Philosophical Crisis
My friend and I always used to joke that Muffin didn’t know she was a bird. At dinner time, my friend and I would sit at our spots at the table, and Muffin would sit at hers – well, ON the table, with her own plate of food. She was so acclimated to our world…
Dueling Mommies
“Sally”, as we shall call her, began making regular appearances at Omar’s shortly after I purchased Philip. I would often arrive in the evening or weekends to find her by his stand, playing with or holding him. At the time, I think that Philip was the only African Grey baby on the floor. Omar’s has…
A Parrot Called Philip
I got the call from Omar’s one afternoon at work. They had just received a baby Grey and I was next on the list. Was I interested? Interested?! I don’t think I bothered to tell Arthur I was leaving until I was halfway to the pet store. Most breeders will separate the mother from her…
Grey Mystique
My all-time favorite African Grey story may be more legend than truth, but it is a fun one all the same. As the story goes, the owner leaves her Grey with a friend for a couple of months. During his extended stay, the Grey listens in on numerous phone calls between the friend and some…
A Love Affair with Birds
I had a severe test of my character the other day. I was on a ministry call, and I often wander around the house when I am on the phone. There is, apparently, a direct connection between the movement of my feet and the firing of synapses in my noggin. Well, I happened to stop…
In the Beginning There Was Muffin
It all began with Muffin. Muffin was (and possibly still is) a sweet tempered Blue Fronted Amazon parrot. I have carefully sifted through all of my memories of her and can’t bring up a single one of her biting me. Never fear, however. I have been bitten enough times in subsequent years to make up…
Beginning at the End
Every end has a beginning on both sides. It is those transition periods that can be the most challenging. A whole lot of our endings overwhelm the beginning that happens – or COULD happen at the same time. Sometimes we wrestle for weeks, months, or even years before we can let go of the end…
Beyond the Horizon 