Bobby

Dear Blog,

 I don't think I've properly introduced you to my budgie Bobby. She’s a six year old blue beauty who was given to me by a breeder.

 

 I’ve wanted to write up a proper post about how Bobby came to be a part of our family, but I didn’t want to briefly summon it up so I’ll be splitting the story into two parts. Here’s the first:

 

[Bobby's story, Part 1]

 

I’d never had a proper pet before because my parents didn’t want the upkeep of a dog or cat. From the age of five I spent days caring for my Kelpie plush and constructing card board box puppies, dreaming of the day my parents would cave in and finally allow me to have a pet dog. Dogs were my favourite animal and I was literally obsessed. I’d borrow out books from our school library on how to care for a dog, how to teach them tricks, different breeds....

 After a while when I realised the folks weren’t going to budge I began looking into other types of pets.

 

Once I came close to owning a guinea pig after a friend decided to try breeding them which ended in a large outbreak. However my mum is very particular about odors (guinea pigs have that funny furry animal smell) and I’m not sure anyone in my family would enjoy the squeaking.

 I began getting desperate, so much so that I even gave starting a sea monkey farm a try. Sea monkeys just weren’t for me; they’re neither cute nor cuddle. End of story

 

 I still clung to the idea of perhaps one day caring for an animal, but I was running out of options. It seemed I’d have to postpone that dream till I was old enough to move out of home.

 

 During high school I made friends with girl named Heidi. We were in the same hospitality class at the time; I’m not exactly sure how the topic came about but we began discussing her different pets (she owned a cat and a few rabbits, again I was offered one but sadly had to refuse). I began telling her how I longed for an animal to care for. Heidi invited me over to her house to hang out - the same day her mum had a day off from work.

 Heidi had to run an errand so I was left chatting with her mum, and again, the topic of pets was brought up and I related to her my woes.

 

“Have you ever considered getting a bird?” she asked.

 

 This thought had occurred to me, my mum loves birds. However there was also the matter of cost involved. I didn’t have enough money to buy a bird from a pet store, but overall it seemed like a pretty low maintenance animal that the rest of my family wouldn’t mind welcoming into our home.

 

Heidi’s mum proceeded to tell me about a family friend of theirs who breed budgies and sometimes gave them away to close friends and loving homes. It seemed so perfect! I was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to tell my family about the possibility of getting a bird. The events to follow all happened so quickly and without any problems that it almost seemed like the work of faith.

 Heidi’s mum got in contact with her friend and a few days later I was at the woman’s house itching to see the little hatchling she’d set aside specially for me.

 

 The first time I saw Bobby. The first time I got to hold Bobby. I remember the nervous feeling in my gut mimicked the loud flutters of  a dozen budgerigars flapping about inside the aviary I was being led towards. I began stressing on whether she'd like me or not. I smile to myself because when I think of the bird I met then and know today, personality wise she hasn’t changed a bit.

 

meeting Bobby for the first time, 2007

 

  

March, 2013