I
remember the first time daddy spoke about a little parakeet, but I argued
there was not enough room...and we surely didn't have enough time to spare
for more cleaning.
When daddy came home
he was still talking about the sweet parakeets and how I would love to
watch them play. But I stuck firm and no parakeets were brought
home.
The next week I heard
about parrolets, dusky's and parakeets, but again I stood my ground and
no birdies came home.
The following week
I laughed as the phone rang knowing it was daddy calling from the
breeder/pet store. Sure enough it was a desperate call about
more sweet beautiful parakeets.
That day it was not
a good day for me, the weather was yucky and the aches and pains of rainy
weather was upon me. I listened as he spoke of a beautiful
green parakeet being so sweet and climbing right up on his hand.
I knew that was it. This one would not get away.
This was the special
one. The one we were waiting for I just knew it ....somehow I could
feel it. Through modern technology and a cell phone, I listened
as all the arrangements were made. Cage, toys, and food were purchased.
Only the best, we said, for our baby.
From the moment I
laid eyes on him I knew he would be my special one. He was
so gentle, so trusting , he had no fear of stepping up or receiving kisses.
Such a tiny thing with a huge personality had to have a special name to
live up to with his big sisters. Sir Jonathan Keets was given
to him that day and it fit him perfectly.
Before long Jonathan
was the first to be visited by friends and family members.
He never ran away or failed to step up on their awaiting finger.
He would sit forever, enjoying kisses and he especially loved being talked
to in a slow gentle voice.
Two months later
Jerry surprised me with a beautiful peach faced lovebird for my birthday.
We talked about it for a couple of weeks before making the final decision.
I thought it would be a good playmate for Jonathan as he didn't seem that
interested in playing with toys as other parakeets.
We named our new
addition Benjamin and the two of them quickly became as bonded as two birds
could be. They didn't realize they were the same sex or for that
matter different species. They just knew they loved each other
and spent all their time together snuggled on the play set when not playing
with the toys or eating. Benjamin was great for Jonathan's
appetite for now he was eating more than ever while enjoying the
company of his new friend.
I must admit I am
a doting mother, especially with the little ones, so when I brought up
things here and there, I was dismissed by Jerry and everyone else.
They thought I was just being over protective. They made sense
because Jonathan was eating and playing without showing any illness.
The signs just came and went.
But then in the last
week of February I knew they were wrong. Jonathan
was showing signs of being ill and I knew if he was showing them then chances
are he was much worse.
Dr. Hall, our
vet, found Jonathan to have a bacterial infection. Immediately
we went into sick mode and made sure his home (cage) was covered, heated
and kept out of the way of stress.
Jerry came home everyday
at lunchtime to give antibiotics that Dr Hall prescribed. Jonathan
was a real trooper and of course, Benjamin always came down from
his home and joined Jonathan and Jerry on the couch watching every move
with great anticipation.
Jonathan had good
days while others he seemed less anxious to move about, but he still
kept up a good appetite. Benji on the other hand couldn't stand
Jonathan being locked up and continuously climbed between the covering
on Jonathan's home. He would nestle up as close to Jonathan,
as the bars would allow, hanging there for hours next to his closest
feathered friend. He only left long enough to eat and
drink , with a quick run about the play set, before returning to Jonathan's
side.
Benji's presence
seemed to comfort Jonathan and everyone agreed separation, at this point,
would be worse for Benji and Jonathan both. Since they were
not eating from the same dish, Dr Hall felt the stress from being separated
from Jonathan would be more stressful than Benji's chances of catching
Jonathan's illness if he didn't have it already.
Once Jonathan finished
his medication a recheck was scheduled. Dr. Hall felt he should
stay on his antibiotics a few more days. During this time he seemed
to perk up considerably. I know birds cover up their illnesses,
which I knew at this point Jonathan did very well, but he did seem better.
He kept coming to
the door of his home wanting to come out. I thought this was a very
good sign he was feeling better. When I opened his cage
he jumped on my finger to be escorted out with Benjamin who anxiously
awaiting his arrival.
Jonathan walked around
the play set a couple of times before picking out his favorite spot to
perch for a little preening and chit chat with Benji.
Benji was excited to be so close to Jonathan without the hindrance of bars
between them.
I watched over them
like a mother hen for any signs of stress to Jonathan. He seemed
to be handling it very well, but after fifteen minutes I thought it best
to have Jonathan return to his home.
I think he also felt
the same as he gave no signs of refusal when I sat him on his perch.
He was happy with his few moments of freedom, but he also had to admit
he wasn't quite up to par.
During the next few
days we stuck to the same schedule . Jonathan was out every
afternoon and evening for a few precious minutes to spend time on
the play set and to cuddle up with Benjamin.
Saturday, March 10,
2001, was a cold dreary day. My body was telling me the day
was not going to improve. I was unfortunate enough to catch
a flu bug, I had a few weeks earlier. My granddaughter
was the carrier this time around. I knew it would pretty much
be a day of movies and resting on the couch.
Benjamin and Jonathan's
home is directly across from the couch so they were my entertainment for
the day. I watched Benji climb in and out of the sheet covering
Jonathan's home. He took great pride in knocking Jonathan's
food dish off the side of his home and then scrambling to safety
as I approached to examine the damage.
Jonathan watched
quietly as Benji dislodged his water dish as I returned with his
fresh food. I saw the new mess and quickly put Benji
on the play set so he didn't do the same with the fresh food, before I
returned with fresh water.
When I thought of
taking a quick nap, Benji decided it was time to serenade Jonathan.
A nap was out of the question so I turned on the TV.
Jonathan then decided to make it a duet and between the two of them TV
was now out of the question. But I was so excited to hear Jonathan
chirping I didn't really care. I enjoyed listening
to them chat back and forth.
Benji started coming
in and out of the covering chirping louder each time, as though to tell
me something. I got up to check if everything was all
right and found no problems.
Jonathan was preening
and all food and water dishes were clean and in place. As I
walked away Benji jumped to the floor. I found this strange
and walked back to check on Jonathan, but he was the same as when I left.
With Benjamin's actions
I started to feel unsettled realizing something was wrong, but from all
indications everything was all right.
Twenty minutes later
Jerry and our son Jacob returned home. Jacob sat down
in the rocking chair next to Jonathan and Benjamin's home.
He saw a strange bump under the sheet covering Jonathan's home and asked
what it was. I told him it was Benji hanging out with Jonathan.
He bent down to look
into Jonathan's home and said "Mom I think Jonathan is....."
I didn't wait for him to say the word. I didn't want
to hear it and I didn't want to believe it! I ran to
look and found Jonathan on the bottom of his home. I
totally lost it!
I asked Jerry to
please check on Jonathan as I ran to the bathroom. I sat there
for what seemed like forever. I couldn't
believe it all took place without me knowing anything was wrong!
My Jonathan never gave any indication he was feeling bad and the thought
of him being alone at that time was unbearable.
From Benji's reactions
I know he knew Jonathan was not doing well and tried, in his way, to let
me know. Benji sat on my shoulder, in the bathroom, giving
kisses as we shared the loss of our little Jonathan together. I knew
it would be even more difficult for Benji because he lost his feathered
playmate and best friend.
Jonathan passed to
the Rainbow Bridge on March 10, 2001. We all miss him and will
never forget the time we were fortunate to spend with him.
It was a short time, but long enough to know one day we will be with him
forever.
Jonathan entered
my life on a rainy dreary Saturday and he chose to leave my life on a rainy
dreary Saturday. After a storm we are blessed to
see a beautiful rainbow off in the distance giving hope the storms have
passed. I feel Jonathan's rainbow reached out and touched
him on that final rainy day. As in a blink, of an eye,
he was taken from dark rainy skies to the warmth and healing arms of the
rainbow bridge, where all the bridge kids were waiting to welcome
him home.
Two weeks after Jonathan's
death we found he had a disease of his bone marrow. This is
something he had from birth and there was nothing we could do to change
the outcome.
I knew he was special,
when Jerry called that day from the breeder. When I saw him I knew
he needed a special name. And I just knew he was going to be a very
important part of our feathered family.
Someone knew he needed
a home for only a little while because of his illness. They
also knew I needed a tiny parakeet to teach me of their love and remove
the fear I always held of them.
Someone reached out
beyond the Rainbow Bridge and sent Jonathan to our family.
He enjoyed his last days of life in a comfortable home (cage) with plenty
of toys, good food, a family who loved him and a special feathered friend
to run and play with. Jonathan was loved by all our human
family as well as Benji his favorite feathered family member.
Jonathan
proved "little" guys have "BIG" hearts!
Good night Jonathan...Big
"Birdie Kisses".....mommy misses you!
Award Memorials Jonathan has received. Memorials
Apply
for Jonathan's Beautiful
Site Award
Back
To Birdies Back
To Parrots Choice Back
To Stop Abuse
