he is gone now

[RondoHatton]

Tony in Tarzana suggested I start a thread. Bartenders, merge, delete, or what have you as you see fit. I can type with both hands now - he is gone. Something told me to get up and check on him in the middle of the night. He was on the cage floor - a fatal sign for parrots. A bit of life was still in him. Held him cupped in my hand, up against my skin, close to my heart, keeping him warm. After 90 minutes of waiting for time to pass and the vet to open, his breathing became labored, he arched his head up - I'd like to think he took a loving look at me - squeaked weakly in a way I have never heard or want to hear again, and died in my hand. I keept looking at him, checking, you can't really be...dead? But there is no mercy. Sobbing I put down, finally. I feel nauseous. This is my daily constant companion of twelve years, my only family, bonded, behaviors that we play off each other, gone gone gone the love gone the kissing games, the calls & responses we made up & kept up, the rituals we shared - he loved to dance in the shower! He was born in Matillaja Canyon in Ventura County near Ojai, at Bill Palmer's place - dear Bill has been gone a few years now. Maybe my baby is with him in Heaven now. Childish as I can be, I'd like to think that. Bill always knew I loved his bird. This year has seen the loss of Danny Finegood, a wonderful man and childhood friend, my Father, and now my companion. Tony in Tarzana, up late, suggested I open a thread, as many fine loungers might understand. Thanks to you all.

 

[PADDY]

I'm really sorry to hear this...

...things seemed to be drawing to a close for your beloved pet, but there is never any comfort when the moment finally comes. And I think, as you hinted at by mentioning other people who have passed away, there can be an association/link between the life of your beloved pet and the lost lives of others. When my father passed away, his dog still remained for several years. I just felt that while she was still around, so it meant that dad hadn't 'really' passed away from this earth. I just felt the strong link between this little dog and dad. When she finally passed, I felt as though I had just lost more than the dog, but also dad. Does that make sense? It really does become a defining moment of chapters in lives closing.

But none of what I have said can give any comfort to the pain and loss you must feel right now. I'm just so sorry that you have to suffer through this time.

But ask yourself...for the weeks and months of pain you will undoubtedly go through, would you ever swap that for the wonderful years you have shared with your beloved pet? Their love is without conditions and given so freely.

Take care.

Paddy.

 

[BegintheBeguine]

We understand. Please accept my condolences. He knew he was loved until the end.
Ashley

 

[ScionPI2005]

I am sorry for your loss. We are here for you. May time help heal the wounds.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I am so sorry.

 

[Dracca]

My condolences for your loss. It's very hard to lose a pet, it sounds as if he had a great life with you though.

 

[VargasBaby]

My condolences as well for your loss. Loosing a pet is never easy, as they become so much a member of the family as anyone human can.

 

[Gilbey]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss, Rondo. He's a cute one indeed, I know you told me about him before. Take it easy.

 

[RondoHatton]

Did you know he smelled like a rose? He really did smell sweet like a flower. The antibiotics made him smell like plastic - ugh - but I got a little whiff of what he used to smell like before he left us. Maybe his diet did it, maybe different lorikeets smell like different flowers. Nothing will ever smell as sweet.

 

[Edward]

Rondo, I am very sorry to hear of your loss - in time things will gain perspective, but it's never easy losing a treasured pet. It's a loss that often is only rarely less keenly felt than a human family member. Whenever our first cat died (I grew up with him from 6 to 18), I took a lot of comfort in imaginng him up there in heaven. Specifically, I imagnied him sitting purring on Christ's knee...... and then Jesus's face when the old boy jumped down and he was covered in cat hair. the oul fella used to cast so much, you could have knitted another cat every week...

...things seemed to be drawing to a close for your beloved pet, but there is never any comfort when the moment finally comes. And I think, as you hinted at by mentioning other people who have passed away, there can be an association/link between the life of your beloved pet and the lost lives of others. When my father passed away, his dog still remained for several years. I just felt that while she was still around, so it meant that dad hadn't 'really' passed away from this earth. I just felt the strong link between this little dog and dad. When she finally passed, I felt as though I had just lost more than the dog, but also dad. Does that make sense? It really does become a defining moment of chapters in lives closing.

Makes absolute sense. My Great-grandfather was extremely close to his cat because Spot had been my great-grandmother's cat. She died a few months before I was born. He was the only one the cat would really go near, and when the cat died, it really hit him hard.

 

[Starius]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. How old was he?

 

[RondoHatton]

Twelve - oughta have lived double that

He hatched April First, 1995. Very appropriate to his personality - playful trickster. As a baby he learned to make horrible gasping sounds just to have me rush to him, then he would laugh at me - hahaha. Oh, please be in heaven, please look on me, please enter my dreams sweetly...

 

[scotrace]

I am sorry for the loss of a close friend.

 

[BeBopBaby]

He hatched April First, 1995. Very appropriate to his personality - playful trickster. As a baby he learned to make horrible gasping sounds just to have me rush to him, then he would laugh at me - hahaha. Oh, please be in heaven, please look on me, please enter my dreams sweetly...

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. A friends' parrot would do a perfect imitation of the telephone ringing and laugh at you when you picked up the phone. The intellect of these little creatures is amazing and makes for very strong bonds that go beyond simple pet ownership. My thoughts are with you.

 

[imoldfashioned]

Adding my voice to all those extending their sympathy to you at this difficult time. I'm so glad you told us and gave us the opportunity to lend you support.

 

[deanglen]

Sorry to hear of your loss, praying for comfort for you.

dean

 

[Mr. Lucky]

It just SUCKS when someone, our pet, that is so close to us dies. That void left behind... And you miss 'em, with all your heart. And you cry. And, then, after a while, you remember - something silly, something goofy, and you smile, weakly but lovingly. But then the pain, it comes again and you cry some more. But at least, for a moment, there was a smile. And then another with another memory, and another after that - more smiles and sighs. And while the ache never truly goes away, completely, it does become more and more supplanted by the smile and the memories, those wonderful, goofy, silly little memories. And we miss our friends. But that's okay.

 

[RondoHatton]

...things seemed to be drawing to a close for your beloved pet, but there is never any comfort when the moment finally comes. And I think, as you hinted at by mentioning other people who have passed away, there can be an association/link between the life of your beloved pet and the lost lives of others. When my father passed away, his dog still remained for several years. I just felt that while she was still around, so it meant that dad hadn't 'really' passed away from this earth. I just felt the strong link between this little dog and dad. When she finally passed, I felt as though I had just lost more than the dog, but also dad. Does that make sense? It really does become a defining moment of chapters in lives closing...But ask yourself...for the weeks and months of pain you will undoubtedly go through, would you ever swap that for the wonderful years you have shared with your beloved pet?...Take care...Paddy.

Should NOT have been drawing to a close according to most recent avian specialist vet tests, darn it. Weakened by his bout with a bug, but his poop no longer "liver" green, he should have had a longer life.
No swap.
Yes, sense. The "closed" chapter of the woman who gave me a surprise present of a little bird ain't so closed I 'spose, though we've not sppken or seen in a decade, she's remarried, etc, but I miss her all over again.

 

[Twitch]

There is simply nothing more unfair about life than losing a pet companion. I'm sure most of us have suffered the event but none of us know exactly how you feel about your friend in particular.

After all is said and done he knows you loved him and you know he loved you and you can't ask for a stronger bond than that.

Fly high little guy.

 

[RIOT]

My deepest and sincerest go out to you.