User blog:Soosieloo/Ode to a Rascal

You came to me in distress, matted feathers and cage in woe. I looked at your pitiful eyes and sighed, not wanting to take on yet another sad case, not wanting to get involved. What did I know of bigger birds and their needs? How would I fit in this tasty treat amongst my hungry cats and curious dogs. We exchanged looks again and I sighed. Again. It was a foregone conclusion, my brain just had to catch up.

Its always that way, when the needy come to my door I always sigh.. but then take them in. Lame and sick, bad tempered and rejected, abandoned and fallen they find haven in my home and always my heart. That is how at one time I had 5 smelly dogs, and 5 mewling cats, a bad tempered horse and a possum. My home was at capacity but I told myself that there must be room for this bird. This cockatiel to be precise.

So I trundled this beast home in his filthy and neglected cage, it was a turning point in my relationship with my mother. It was when I realized that time was a wicked beast, the nurterer was now in need of nurturing. "but I'm the baby!" I wailed to myself. The youngest of five and spoiled rotten. Now I was supposed to grow up and take care of mom. It was a mind blowing moment I wont forget. My trip to see her was a shock, the condition of her home, the neglect of the bird. You see, Mom had gotten two birds, one for each of her darling grandbabies. A gift for the girls. One was still with my neice, a girl no longer. The other was with mom, I forget why but there he was decades later. It wasn't until I finally got him home that I read how long lived these intelligent beasts are.



So I took care of him. Years passed and I marveled at how sweet he was, despite his neglect he never complained. Time and time again I was shocked at his intelligence, his quirks. He loved the song Donald, where's your troosers! by The Irish Rovers, he would go nuts and dance and sing like a maniac the moment he heard the first notes. Years spent caged he never developed trust in his ability to fly, though I often let him out of his enormous cage. So we laid out ladders and walkways for him to explore and play without the scariness of flight. His favorite thing was to perch at the height of the ladder and survey his domain and nibble on the palm tree.

I think I had him for... what... 10 years or more till this sad morning when I found him cold and still. So Rudy, you dusty tricksy rascal.. this one is for you:

Let the wind blow High, Let the wind blow low

Through the streets in my kilt I'll go

All the lassies say hello

"Donald where's your Trousers!?"



I came down from the Isle of Skye

I'm not to big and I'm awfully shy

The lassies say as I go by

"Donald where's your Trousers!?"



Let the wind blow High, Let the wind blow low

Through the streets in my kilt I'll go

All the lassies say hello

"Donald where's your Trousers!?"



I went to a fancy ball

<p style="text-align:center;">It was slippery in the hall

<p style="text-align:center;">I was feared that I might fall

<p style="text-align:center;">Cause I hadn't me on me Trousers

<p style="text-align:center;">

<p style="text-align:center;">Let the wind blow High, Let the wind blow low

<p style="text-align:center;">Through the streets in my kilt I'll go

<p style="text-align:center;">All the lassies say hello

<p style="text-align:center;"><span class="line line-s" id="line_20" style="padding-right:5px;padding-left:5px;font:inherit;display:block;color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:arial,sans-serif;line-height:22px;">"Donald where's your Trousers!?"

<p style="text-align:center;"><span class="line line-s" style="padding-right:5px;padding-left:5px;font:inherit;display:block;color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:arial,sans-serif;line-height:22px;">