Stories of my male YN Karma

labell

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I was asked to tell some stories of the wonderful 15 yrs I had with this boy. His original name was Ralph, I heard him say it at the breeders a few times before I took him home, however once he was at my house with his new name Karma, he never said his old name again.

My breeder friend had gotten a lot of birds from someone getting out of parrot keeper and he was one of them. He couldn't be used for breeding because he was over weight and didn't show any interest in the female the other person had tried to put him with. He was very aggressive toward people and would actively go after you. My friend called me to come over to look at a Green-wing that had come in with this bunch of birds because she knew I had expressed some interest in them. I got there and this macaw clearly did not like me. We were standing there talking and I hear this excited hello! I went over to the cage and there he was, flashing and so excited to see me. My friend warned me how aggressive he was but I told her I would risk it. He came out and tried to feed me. Two weeks later, (we wanted to see if he would continue to react that way to me each time I came over and he did) he came home with me for good.

He talked better than any bird I had ever heard, even Grey's and in many voices including some Spanish. He cried like a new born baby, not pleasant. He also mimicked a woman's voice pleading not to be hit again, saying I am sorry please don't hit me again. It was AWFUL! It always made me want to know who that man was and kick his butt!

He also knew many songs.. I left my heart in San Fransisco, Happy birthday, Fly me to the moon, Twinkle twinkle little star. He learned new ones at my house such as the Itsy bitsy spider, When the red red robin comes bob bobbing along (I used to sing that to my boys every morning even into their teen years while pulling the covers off them and sometime dumping water to get them out of bed! LOL! The scooby doo song and Phil Collins Groovy kind of love. That was a special one that I taught him because we really did have a special love and bond to each other. I can no longer listen to that song because the night he died he was wrapped in a towel in my lap and sang that song to me and laughed saying what a sweet heart he is right before he passed.:(

I once had workers on my roof fixing my chimney and he had been in rare form that day singing at the top of his lungs when the guy came to tell me they were stopping for the day he awkwardly asked me if I had a mentally handicapped child and what a happy child he was. No just a happy, silly bird. The guy's jaw dropped to the floor, "that was a bird singing all those songs?" Yep!:D

I think I told this story but it was so funny (now, not at the time) when I was first dating my now husband Karma's cage was in my bedroom he picked up let's say...some pleasure noises, in my voice! Later after we were married my husband had a bunch of friends over playing poker in the dining room, his cage was in the living room, I was in the kitchen, only way out was through the dining room where every one was. Karma starts making pleasure noises and COMMENTS in my voice. My face was on fire! It went on for over 15 mins I really thought I would die! Of course the guys found it hilarious and my husband came out looking like a god! He also did that in front of my mother once, never in front of my dad thank god! Dad's just never want to think of their little girl in that way and I would have been mortified. My mother laughed!

We had a very large Doberman and we had to train everyone to lock the front door even when we were home because if someone knocked Karma would say "come in" very clear and in my voice and then staring at them would be a very unhappy dobe. The dog was fine when we opened the door and let someone in but he was not real fond of people just walking into the house. Karma would also call the dog and tell him to sit! It wasn't uncommon to walk out in the living room to see Thor sitting in front of Karma's cage waiting to be released from command. Poor dog!

I saved the most amazing story for last. Karma was very polite of my sleep and once he was covered at night he would whisper a few good-nights and kissing noises and then wouldn't make a peep until I uncovered him in the morning, even if he heard me in the living room after his cage was covered he was quiet. I was 26 yrs old and been told earlier that day that I had cancer and would need to have a partial hysterectomy. I had two boys from my first marriage my oldest was 8 at the time, yes I got knocked up young! I was at the time raising them as a single parent after I divorced their father who was truly a pig and slept with every woman in town behind my back before I found out. I lost a lot of friends over that whole situation, it was staggering how many people knew and didn't tell me! So there I was so young and facing never being able to have more children in the future. The lights were out, Karma's cage was covered, my kids were upstairs sleeping and I was quietly crying in the dark when I hear 'I love you Mommy, I'm sorry" This is the first time I had ever heard him put together that combination of words. He got some extra loving and a tear bath. My kids were too young to understand what I was going through and I never would have burdened them with that kind of sadness to them momma was always happy. Karma comforted me in that moment of despair like no human could.
 
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labell

labell

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I should say as well that Karma scared off a few potential boyfriends after my divorce. He really did hate everyone but me. I had to teach my kids to have a healthy keep your distance, respect for him. If he was on the floor he would put his beak down to the carpet, flash his eyes and flare his tail and literally run/chase after anyone he thought was too close to me.
It was always something I made perfectly clear when I started dating again...Karma stays, no discussion.
 

JerseyWendy

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Wow, Laura! I have goosebumps all over now.

Karma was surely extremely special. I would listen to you for hours on end when you talk about him. I know how much you must miss him, and I also know that MeMe must be bringing back a whole boatload of memories of Karma right now.

Hey, Karma may have found his way right back into your life...you never know. :) (I take that back, you WILL know :D)
 

Terry57

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Laura, thank you so much for sharing your precious stories of Karma (which is the best name ever, btw). I laughed, I cried - I felt every emotion possible when reading about the precious soul who was so meant to be with you.
Karma comes back to all of us in one way or another, and I think that maybe your Karma has returned in that beautiful little MeMe who is so lucky to call you Mom.
 
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labell

labell

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No, which breaks my heart! In the years that we moved around for my husband's job we at one time had our stuff in storage and the unit flooded. I only have one picture of my doberman Thor and no pics of Karma, many of my kids baby pics were saved since I had given a lot of them to my sons since they were older and living on their own but many of them were destroyed as well. My mother said she had one of Karma and I some where but when she died her husband said he couldn't find it. I really don't think he looked very hard.:(
I still have a old cassette recording of Karma talking, it was in a higher box but I don't play it anymore it makes me too sad and I am always so afraid that the tape will break or wear out.
 
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labell

labell

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I was laughing thinking how "stone age" this all must sound to some of the younger members.
I was a single mother, going to college, working on campus doing parking patrol and some tutoring and working for my breeder friend and moon light bar tending on the weekends I didn't have my sons. I did not get child support because I refused it. My ex was 12 yrs older than me and had always ruled over me. When we got divorced which I paid for the whole thing. I told the courts I didn't need or want his money, if I took his money I would have to listen to his mouth which was something I was done doing! We had joint custody of the boys with him having them every other weekend. I told him if they needed something he could buy it for them directly but I didn't want anything from him and the courts agreed since I was not on any assistance.

I wrote my college papers at the time on a banged up second hand typewriter my father bought for me. All research was done in the library with actual books LOL!

Pictures were taken with the throw away cameras or a small pocket one I had for many years, no hooking those up to a computer. Photo's were developed when I had extra cash which wasn't often.

Cell phones..unheard of, the first one I ever saw was after finishing college and starting in the social work field. It was as big as an old walkie talkie and rarely could you actually hear the other person.

Okay...I am feeling OLD!!!
 
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JerseyWendy

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Shush about our age, Laura, or I will open a can of whoop-butt on you. :54:

We are YOUNG....and I don't want to hear anything opposite.

I, too, had a regular old typewriter. In fact, I learned to type on my parents' typewriter...it looked something like this:

 
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labell

labell

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Yep, mine was baby poop brown and had a case but the latches didn't work so well!:p Oh and mine had the actual old round keys by the end of college some had fallen off it hurt to push that bare metal!
 
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JerseyWendy

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Yep, mine was baby poop brown and had a case but the latches didn't work so well!:p Oh and mine had the actual old round keys by the end of college some had fallen off it hurt to push that bear metal!


BAHAHAHAHA...sounds like we had the identical typewriters. Ours wasn't white either. Ours was something like THIS :eek:
 

Terry57

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I also lost a bunch of pics due to a flood, so have no pics of all the wonderful birds I used to have - only an old VHS tape of a few, that I am also afraid to play in case it breaks..lol.
I also remember when there were no cell phones, and no remotes for TVs...I was so thrilled when the first remote came out, even though is was hooked to the TV with a cord..lol.
Now I feel old too.
 
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labell

labell

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Sorry Terry, it's so awful to lose that kind of non replaceable items isn't it, I didn't cry over anything as much as those lost pictures!

LOL! I had a VHS recorder for a short time my dad bought it for us for Christmas one year along with a bunch of Disney movies for the kids. Alas I had boys...very mischievous boys. It did not handle well having two pop tarts installed and played!:p
 

Terry57

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Would it also make me sound old to say I still have a Betamax in the garage?
 
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labell

labell

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Nope, not if I can admit that I have bought "The White Album" (for you young folks that would be The Beatles).. on 8 track, cassette, record album and finally CD. I think I might have helped buy Ringo some extra drum cymbals at the very least! Maybe even some groovy incense for John.
 
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Terry57

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And a lava lamp for Paul!
 
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labell

labell

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This post also got my nostalgic over my first automobile love... a 1969 Plymouth Satellite 383 big block engine with a racing ratchet shifter. It looked like a boat but that car was so fast! I used to say if any of my friends went missing their prints could certainly be lifted from my dash board! LOL:16:
 
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Terry57

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My first car was a '69 Mustang, jacked way up in the back! Thank you for reminding me of her, she was gorgeous:) Her name was Ruffian after a wonderful female racehorse:)
Sorry , I keep dragging your thread about the wonderful Karma way off topic:(
 

JerseyWendy

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Oh you 2 and your AWESOME first cars. :eek:

Wanna know about my first ride? I won't post a picture, MUCH too embarrassed. It was a snot green Renault 4. :54::54::54:
 

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Wendy, at least I bet you could drive it! Ruffian was broken down as much as she was on the road:(
 

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