It has been quite a long time since I wrote a Tuesday’s Tune post. It isn’t that I haven’t been inspired by music because I have, but it’s been a time issue especially during the school year. It’s the third week of summer break and while I have more time to write, I also have the time for all those things I said I’d do when school was finished for the year, and now I have that time.
It’s Day 18 of summer break, the first real day of summer and I have been slowly carving away, and adding to, my TO DO list.
Our son was married the Saturday before Memorial Day and it was a weekend of family and friend time. It had been a while since I had been to a wedding, and we had a wonderful time celebrating our son and our new daughter-in-law as well her entire family.
School ended three weeks ago Wednesday and I finished the following day. It has been an interesting two and a quarter years since that last Tuesday’s Tune post – Tuesday’s Tune – Everything’s Not Lost.
The Friday’s weather, the first day of summer break, was sunny, warm, and perfect for watching the birds at the feeders in the backyard. I have placed the feeders so we can see them from the kitchen and sometimes I stop to watch the activity at the feeders. That first Friday afternoon, I looked out to watch for birds and I discovered an unusual bird latched to the tree bark. I stared and realized that it appeared it wasn’t a native bird. I was busy and when I came back later, it had flown off, and didn’t think anything about it the rest of the night.
The next morning, I was putting the trash out when I saw a bird walking in the street, it was the same bird I had seen the day before in our backyard. I bent down to pick up the bird and he climbed on to my finger and I picked him up. I guessed the bird was a pet and it had a purple (mauve) band on its left leg. A neighbor who had been walking his dog stopped to help and neither he nor I knew anyone in our neighborhood who had a pet bird. I placed the bird on a tree branch and took a photo so I could post a “have you lost your bird” post to our neighborhood’s Facebook page. I then headed off to Loaves and Fishes for my regular Saturday morning volunteer shift.
I couldn’t get the bird off my mind, I knew it was some family’s pet, and I felt guilt for not doing more to reunite the bird and its family. So, I turned around when I was almost halfway to Loaves and Fishes so I could retrieve the bird and put him (I was assuming it was a ‘him’) in Fern’s crate until after my shift. Fortunately, Fern and Ivy were (and still are) up north at the lake with my wife and daughter – which is a good thing, because if Fern had been in her yard, the bird wouldn’t have fared well. The bird was where I had left it and it got on my finger right away. I took it inside and placed the it in Fern’s crate, gave it some water, and birdseed, created the “have you lost your bird?” post, and headed off to Loaves and Fishes for my shift.
By the time I arrived at Loaves and Fishes, we were busy helping clients, loading cars with groceries. This year has seen a significant increase in families seeking food assistance as fuel and grocery costs have increased for everyone, but especially putting a crimp on the budgets of people who have the least room for an increase in the cost of groceries or gas.
I couldn’t keep my mind off the bird. Growing up we had three parrots from our time in Venezuela. I texted my brothers and David, the youngest, replied, “Looks like you have a Cockatiel on your hands.”
At the end of my shift, I checked Facebook and discovered that I had a lead on the bird. A neighbor had seen the post and replied:
neighbor: I did a little research for you and found a lost cockatiel post in Wheaton (and a link to a lost bird on Craig’s List) Hope it’s a match!
I followed the link, sent an e-mail, and replied to my neighbor.
me: e-mail sent, thank you!
neighbor: We have the exact same cockatiel so I felt the owner’s pain. Finding a lost bird is like finding a needle in a haystack. They’ll be SUPER appreciative.
me: Thanks for doing research
neighbor: U bet! We live Los Angeles now. Gotta love the internet (occasionally) (and it turned out he wasn’t a neighbor anymore, but had kept up with the neighborhood!)
me: Thank you
It took a couple of hours, but someone returned my e-mail, I verified that it was his bird, and I gave him my cell number and address. He was at my door ten minutes later!
The bird’s owner, Mike, told me, that the Cockatiel, Marley, had gotten loose Thursday afternoon. He had tried to retrieve him, but hadn’t been able to coax him out of the tree. Mike told me his family had had Marley for fifteen years and how he was a part of the family. Having two dogs, I had empathy; our two pups are a part of our family, and I can’t imagine losing either of them.
I invited Mike into the house and brought him into the family room where Fern’s crate is, and Marley immediately perked up when he heard Mike’s voice. Mike bent down to retrieve Marley and he went to Mike right away. I believe both were excited to be back together, again.
Reunited, and it feels so good
Reunited ’cause we understood
There’s one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited ’cause we’re reunited, hey, hey
Mike and I talked about our pets, the birds I had growing up, and our families. I knew he was excited to have his bird back. I could feel it.
After Mike left, I posted that I had reconnected the lost Cockatiel and its owner on the neighborhood Facebook page, and I messaged the neighbor who had been instrumental in making it happen.
me: Reunited! You were right – he was ecstatic!
neighbor: They cost $250 and live 20+ yrs. So they become a valued part of the family. I’m shocked it let you pick him up, he must’ve been exhausted. Thx for the update, glad it worked out!
I am glad I turned around and came back that morning.
Last week I texted Mike and asked how Marley was doing and I got the following reply and the photo.
Mike’s reply: Thanks Clay he slept all week. He’s chirping and singing and being his obnoxious self. Can’t fly because he’s so weak but he’s doing great. I hand fed him food and water first two days then he started going to his food. Thanks for checking up on him.
It’s Day 18 of summer and things are doing well. I am up at the lake with my family and our dogs. A couple of friends (one’s a fellow blogger) recently lost their pets. I can’t imagine the pain and emptiness they feel.
I’ve been working on this post for two weeks. It’s one of the most challenging posts I have written. While death and loss are part of life, it’s something I have experienced and struggled with firsthand many times in the twelve years since I started blogging. I’ve read, reread, rewritten, tweaked, and crafted this post until this moment. If I keep working, it’ll be Wednesday! So, better wrap it up and press ‘publish.’
Today is going to be a great day. I know it and I can feel it. So, I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, making a difference being me.
How is your FIRST DAY of summer?
Reunited performed by Peaches and Herb
I was a fool to ever leave your side
Me minus you is such a lonely ride
The breakup we had has made me lonesome and sad
I realize I love you ’cause I want you bad, hey, heyI spent the evening with the radio
Regret the moment that I let you go
Our quarrel was such a way of learnin’ so much
I know now that I love you ’cause I need your touch, hey, heyReunited, and it feels so good
Reunited ’cause we understood
There’s one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited ’cause we’re reunited, hey, heyI sat here starin’ at the same old wall
Came back to life just when I got your call
I wished I could climb right through the telephone line
And give you what you want so you will still be mine, hey, heyI can’t go cheatin’, honey, I can’t play
I found it very hard to stay away
As we reminisce on precious moments like this
I’m glad we’re back together ’cause I missed your kiss, hey, heyReunited, and it feels so good
Reunited ’cause we understood
There’s one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited ’cause we’re reunited, hey, heyYeah, yeah, yeah
BabyLover, lover, this is solid love
And you’re exactly what I’m dreamin’ of
All through the day
And all through the night
I’ll give you all the love I have with all my might, hey, heyReunited, and it feels so good
Reunited ’cause we understood
There’s one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited ’cause we’re reunited, hey, heySource: LyricFind
Songwriters: Dino Fekaris / Frederick J. Perren
I’m SO glad you turned around and saved that bird. I bet hardly anyone ever gets a lost bird back. You made me smile on a day that I’m struggling, so thank you for saving me in some small way too. My dad use to volunteer at a loves and fishes foodbank many years ago…that’s also a good thing you do.
You are so welcome. I am glad I could give you a lift. As for Marley, I am too. All I could think of was how would I have been feeling if one of our dogs had gotten lost. Glad i could have been a matchmaker! Peace.
You are an amazing man!! Thanks for such a lovely uplifting story. I’m glad Marley and Mike are reunited (that sounds like a movie title – Marley & Mike).
Enjoy the rest of your summer my friend.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Thank you for the compliment and it does sound like a great title for a movie. Mike was so full of joy, but i think i would have been, too. The heat here has broken for the time being. Stay cool. Peace.
Well, that’s a great Feel Good story, and wonderful that it’s involved so many people in helping this reunion happen. Well done you for persisting!
Thank you Margaret. It felt good to help someone and he offered a reward, which I declined. With the advent of the internet, the world has gotten lot smaller and we are all a little closer. Something to ponder. Stay well. Peace.