Today I found a letter to the editor of our local newspaper which resonated with me, as I think it will for anyone recently bereaved, whether by the passing of a human or animal loved one. It reads as follows...
“The day my Dad died out west, an obviously tame corella walked up the back driveway of our then home. My mum popped him in her large cage and went looking for the owner, who when discovered not far away and given the circumstances, told Mum to hold on to him. The corella became a favourite, if noisy, part of the family, and though it was a bit quick for reincarnation, his presence did help to fill the void.”
I have been on the receiving end of a number of encounters such as this, including a certain blue Quaker who is now happily living in Toowoomba, and my tiny Lilly Pilly who, despite her miniature size, is such a force of nature in our home that it is impossible not to be overwhelmed by love for her, even when she is behaving like THE WORLD'S WORST BIRD (sorry Gail, but she really is up there with the worst of 'em!)
I also choose to believe that whenever I'm outdoors and I see a feather on the ground or floating in the air, it means there's a guardian angel somewhere keeping an eye on me. Whether that's actually true or not does not matter, it brings a great deal of comfort to me in these troubling times.
The following is a short video showing that HRH The Crown Princess Lilly Pilly can be sweet and cuddly for about 30 seconds at a time ...
She really is a truly terrible little bird
