Remove ImagesHoloholo Girl
On the Wings of Love
February 22, 2007
I hope you love birds too. It is economical. It saves going to heaven.
-Emily Dickinson
All my past boyfriends have had bizarre quirks I've had to accept or at least tolerate. One boyfriend watched Shawshank Redemption
daily, and was obsessed with Neil Diamond. Another was a chronic
masturbator. And yet another was a flier—of kites. He would insist on
taking me to kite festivals, conventions and stunt kite tournaments,
and even gave me a kite of my very own—mostly, I think, so I wouldn't
have to touch his.
So I've come to find out recently that the new boyfriend has a special quirk, too. It's an especially disturbing one for me.
He likes birds.
I think they're fowl.
When he brought home the cockatiel, I squawked. I just don't believe
birds should be pets—or caged, for that matter. I think they're dirty,
loud, smelly and unaffectionate. I see nothing worthwhile about them
being domesticated. I told the bird so, but it simply turned its back
on me.
I informed the boyfriend we wouldn't be keeping it. Begrudgingly, he acquiesced. "Just give me a week," he said.
But then he took the thing out of its cage to perch it on his
shoulder like some ghetto pirate, and the damn bird began nuzzling him.
It even made these little cooing noises, which pleased my guy greatly.
When they began tongue-to-beaking each other, I walked away.
I felt bad. I certainly don't want to deprive my dude of something that makes him happy. But, like, ewwww.
I decided over the next week I would go on a covert mission to find
something to like about birds, something that would make me tolerate
having one in my home. I started with The Pet Shop at the Maui Mall. I
emailed them, asking about the benefits of birds.
"People are generally very surprised to discover how intelligent
birds truly are," wrote John Guard, "and, if it's a young bird, how
amazingly friendly they become. It's really very easy to become
incredibly attached to them. I believe if you give your new cockatiel a
chance, you'll fall in love with him/her."
Good to know but I wasn't quite convinced. So I did the unthinkable
and joined an online open forum for birdbrains and enthusiasts called
www.BirdBoard.com. And then I chirped my plea.
"I have a little bit of a problem here, bird lovers—I'm not one.
Yet. But it seems my boyfriend desperately wants a cockatiel. Please
help me understand the joys you all seem to feel for these creatures!"
The response was overwhelming. Doyle'sMommy from Atlanta, GA was the first to reply:
"When I got my first bird I never knew how affectionate and loving
they can be!" she wrote. "I admit the first week was really tough, they
are a lot of work—keeping cages clean, fixing fresh food, etc. But the
first time Doyle fell asleep on my chest my heart was his. Here was
this tiny little creature who should be terrified of me and who instead
trusts me enough to turn over on his back and fall asleep on me. We
have had dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, but nothing compares to the love
and trust of a bird. It's a bond that can't be explained unless you
live it yourself."
Copper was more illustrative about his/her love.
"Picture if you can, the first child born," s/he wrote. "You go
through months of waiting and preparation, the pain of birth. Then
there is this wonderfully formed little being that needs you, as much
as you want him. You forget the pain, because you are holding this
precious gift, and even years down the road, you will remember the
first times… the first look of love and trust, the first steps… and
there will always be love, even if they tick you off."
Aw, that's so… strange. But sweet. And then "gbird" from Castle Rock, CO described his love for his budgie, "Pita."
"I've learned patience that I never thought I would have," he wrote.
"Even when he pooped on my PC monitor and shorted it out then said,
'good boy?' I couldn't be mad at him. He's my best friend."
I read on.
"Hi and welcome to the board!" wrote {raddaughter}. "There are so
many ups and downs of parronthood. If I had to describe them in a human
form, they would be a toddler-teen. They are adorable but do throw
hissy fits and get angry for no apparent reason at times."
"And they live longer than most pets," wrote ROYJOY from Salt Lake
City. "I'm 58 and my new Sun Conure, Tiki, is nine months old and will
surely outlive me."
Awesome.
"Once they love you it's there forever," wrote RingneckedPrincess
from California. "It is a deeper bond, at least for me, than any cat or
dog I ever had."
"I love the fact they live so long!" wrote {raddaughter}. "When I
had two of our puppies die I realized that Harley was there, and she
would be for a long time. I have appreciation for all life, but the
fact parrots live so long is a comforting thought."
By "long time" do you suppose they could mean "a week?"
Samantha Campos is currently trying to bring frumpy back. MTW