Hillary the Cockatiel was at least 10 years old, having been purchased at Jefferson Feed and Seed in July of 2016. She was a good bird who loved to dance and squawk and watch over her dogs. Opinionated and impatient, she loved sunflower seeds, riding in the car and sitting on her eggs. There were frequent trips across the river in my vehicle when she would ride on my shoulder while Peanut the chihuahua rode in my lap. It was not uncommon for her to fly around the garage and house, and on more than one occasion Josephine the poodle picked her up in her mouth and returned her to me. I got so used to having Hillary on my shoulder I once walked into the back yard with her (gross negligence on my part) and Hillary took off and flew away! After searching for her for hours, I finally heard her distinctive squawking in my neighbor’s tree. Luckily, my cute nurse neighbor had a boyfriend with a pick-up truck. He put a ladder in the bed of his truck, positioned it under the tree and climbed into the branches to retrieve her. What an amazing rescue! Despite being an avowed spinster, Hillary was a prolific egg layer. And when one egg came, about ten more eggs came after that. She would sit on those eggs for days until her little treasures had to be removed. Hillary never articulated a word but her squawks were imitative of dog barks and I think she considered the dogs (especially Josephine) her real family. She watched over them and when they left her to go to the groomer, she would fuss loudly. Hillary’s chirping was a beautiful soundtrack in my home and also in her Grammy’s. As vigilant as she was, I know she is being watched over now in her new Home. Matthew 6:25-27.
