Mentors Come In All Shapes and Sizes (some even have feathers!)

I have a pet cockatiel (small parrot-like bird) named Pearl. When she was a baby, she was what we might politely call "special".

When I first saw her at the pet store, all I really saw was a round grey feathery blob. She had trouble keeping her food down, so her chest was caked in baby bird formula. As the runt of the litter, she had experienced more than her fair share of hard times at such a young age. By the time I met her she was missing claws from both feet and her right wing didn't work too well, so her idea of flying was more vertical than horizontal.

We bonded immediately.

Pearl never really outgrew her awkwardness. But she did develop a healthy appetite, and now has no trouble keeping her food down. And she's not too picky - she likes couscous, grape nuts cereal, newspaper and plastic bags equally.

But we still do have one food-related issue in common.

Pearl, like me, doesn't like to eat alone. Even when she is very hungry, she often waits to eat until I come home, and I know this because the moment she sees me, she squawks out a greeting and then dives face-first into her food bowl for the next half hour. When I fix myself a meal, she will go to her food bowl at the same time, or, even better, I will fix her a plate of couscous or some popcorn or a cracker or two so we can take our meal together.

As long as we are keeping pace, and I stay right next to her, she continues to feast calmly. But god help me if I finish before she does and get up to go into the other room, or anywhere away from her direct line of sight. In those moments, I often catch myself thinking that Pearl could make excellent money doing the shriek scenes in b-movie horror flicks.

But I also know exactly how she feels. Over the years I have definitely developed the skill of eating responsibly when I am alone, and sometimes I even can enjoy the act of preparing and consuming a meal. But it still isn't my preference.

So Pearl and I dine together most nights, which just goes to prove that we all need support. See for yourself! (yes I sat there for 20 minutes while she finished her snack!)

Comments

[Laura]

Aw, thanks for sharing that! It's true that we all need support and connection - that's one thing this website and your blog provide :)

[Shannon Cutts]

Thanks, Laura! And every time someone makes a comment it makes me feel connected and supported as well! Gotta love Gurze! :)
xo
Shannon

[Lins]

thanks I loved your story. you are so right, we do need support.

[Shannon Cutts]

yes we do - she's sitting on my arm right now as i type this, and we are about to have our coffee (yes she likes coffee too...with amaretto creamer) together! ;)
xo
Shannon

[Rose Millard]

shes beautiful! Its amazing how animals can comfort and keep us company. Keep up the good work in your recovery!

[Shannon Cutts]

awww...i feel so proud. thank you for saying that! i also had the thought - isn't it amazing how we are so comfortable saying our pets are beautiful but have to work so hard to say that to ourselves (or at least i do). and pearl always accepts the compliment - with immediate demands for more! ;)
xo
shannon