We all know how different a house becomes when our little ones grow up and fly away to their own lives. From once a house that was filled with running feet, shrieks of laughter, slamming screen doors, the TV blaring with the booms of video games, ........to now.......stillness........quiet.......peace............and somewhat lonely.
For 27 years, Cookie has seen all of this take place, and has survived............In the beginning, it was just Cookie, myself, and my newly wed husband. We lived in a tiny apartment, and with both of us gone during the day at work....Cookie lived in quiet. As the years went by, he met the many furry creatures that came to inhabit the space along with him.......and then the babies......quiet at first, but then changing our nights and days into constant activity.He soon learned to bow up and hiss at the curious cats and dogs that came to sniff and paw at him....scaring them away. He learned to delight the little ones by jumping onto their fingers and heads.......and then to squawk a warning that he wanted to be left alone. And here we are , 27 years later............quiet.......
As I do my stitching.........
I look up, and this is what I see............. Cookie, who during the young years of my children's life, lived in the quietness of my bedroom,( because the loud noises from the television really bothered him), now loves to sit on the lower extension of my sewing lamp, keeping me company, watching every stitch.
He used to fly after me from room to room,.................. a game he and I played. I would run to hide and he was right behind me, always landing on my head as soon as he caught up. He doesn't fly anymore........I don't run anymore.........the years have slowed both of us down. He has watched my life start from learning how to not burn the night's dinner, to becoming a young mother, and an on the run mother of teens, to the once again quiet , but older woman, talking to....... him.
After all of these years....I have been the one to cover his cage at night, to uncover him in the morning, to keeping him fed and watered......the one to watch over him.......but looking up at him now...... I realize.................
As I do my stitching.........
I look up, and this is what I see............. Cookie, who during the young years of my children's life, lived in the quietness of my bedroom,( because the loud noises from the television really bothered him), now loves to sit on the lower extension of my sewing lamp, keeping me company, watching every stitch.
He used to fly after me from room to room,.................. a game he and I played. I would run to hide and he was right behind me, always landing on my head as soon as he caught up. He doesn't fly anymore........I don't run anymore.........the years have slowed both of us down. He has watched my life start from learning how to not burn the night's dinner, to becoming a young mother, and an on the run mother of teens, to the once again quiet , but older woman, talking to....... him.
After all of these years....I have been the one to cover his cage at night, to uncover him in the morning, to keeping him fed and watered......the one to watch over him.......but looking up at him now...... I realize.................it has been Cookie who has been watching over me.
Now my question to you....do you have a pet that has been with you for years and has seen the chaos of family life dwindle to quietness? I would love to hear.
30 comments:
Awww, I'm going to cry. This was such a sweet post about your little Cookie. My sister had a cockatiel for about 15 years and then had to give him away due to a move and not being able to take him with her. He was sweet, too. Your little Cookie has lived a long time and it must be because he was loved and cared for. He's seen it all with you. I think that's so neat! Thanks, Kathleen, for sharing with us about Cookie. Reminds me of my dear sister...
what a great story of you and your bird
I can almost see him flying around after you
landing on your head...makes me laugh (o:
Wow - that was so sweet... I read this with tears in my eyes!! What a special member of your family.
That was so heartwarming & moving. What a very, very special little friend. ♥
~Lara
Wow Kathleen; what a nice post. That little Cookie is a special friend for sure. He's older than your kids. I had a cockatiel once named Gladys. She would never fly. My nephew brought his male cockatiel over to keep her company and teach her to fly. Instead, the male quit flying and started walking along behind Gladys all over the house. He talked; she never did. They are very smart.
Debbie
Oh, Miss Kathleen,
What a sweet post about your Cookie! I'm so glad that's he's there for you and you for him!
Nope, I've not had any pets for that long... I get so attached in such a short amount of time, that it SEEMS like I've had these pets for a long, long time!
What a blessings, Cookie is for you!
BTW, your ceilings are beautiful!!!
Blessings,
Julie
OK that does it. I'm going to get a bird - I have always wanted on since the days we had one when the kids were little. I played the piano, and while the children and me sang - he sang with us. Or when I went to the Piano and just played - he sang. His name was Tweetie.
Then we had a dog named Pudge. We taught Pudge to sing, so you can imagine the noises that could be heard around our house with 4 kids, a bird, a dog, me and the piano all blending our voices. It is hillarious to think of now. Thanks for the memories.
Grammyof13
OH MY GOODNESS..THIS WAS THE SWEETEST POST EVER! I HAD A COCATEIL ONCE BUT HE DIED. WE'VE HAD MANY A PET FOR ALL THEIR LIVES BUT DOGS DON'T LIVE A LONG TIME. CATS DO, I'VE HAD SOME 18 YEARS. WE HAVE LOVED THEM ALL..I THINK WHEN YOU TAKE ON A PET, IT'S JUST LIKE A CHILD, YOU NEED TO BE THERE FOR THEM FOR THEIR LIFE TIME. HE IS THE SWEETEST THING...I ALSO BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE THESE OUR PETS WITH US IN THE NEXT LIFE TOO, AND WHY WOULDN'T WE, THEY ARE OUR FAMILY TOO! COME SAY HI :D
That is such a sweet post about Cookie. Nope, all my beloved friends have come and gone. We always seem to have new ones come along to be by our sides.
Thanks for sharing such sweet words,
Berte
What a faithful companion Cookie has been to you all these years. Your story was so sweet. Don't we love our pets!
Dog nap it Kathleen!!! your always making me cry :o(...that was a sweet post...and made me think of birds I had to get rid of..my hubby got Psittacosis from them when I had a heart attack and he took care of them (wrongly)..it also made me think of my beloved 16 yr old dog "Lady" a small little poodle...after she passed, I couldn't and wouldn't go through that again..she was my last...Ginny
How sweet! That is so neat that he would fly from room to room with you. He is a very special boy! I haven't been lucky enough to have one stay with me nearly that long. I did have a dog I got when I was young, her name was Kelly, after one of the Charlie's Angels, lol! She was with us until right after I got married.
Aw...what a dear post this was about Cookie. She is definitely one of the family there. What a sweet constant companion she is for you too. :)
Hi Kathleen. Cookie is such a sweet friend. I once had a poodle, Terra, she lived to be 16 and was my constant companion. She went to movies with me, dinner at restaurants, vacations. No one ever knew she was there. I carried her in a denim purse, she was only 4lbs. She loved to sneak into places. That was long before there were dog carriers retail. We have had horses and they all lived into their 30's. It is so amazing that those little bodies can comfort and love us in return. I'm glad that he is there in the peaceful time of life. It just shows how life is a circle. Loved the post.
Kelly
Oh that Cookie is a rare bird, a special bird. I have not had a quiet life descend on me, and my beloved pets have all learned to live with constant company, family gatherings, our grandchildren checking up on them, new kittens pawing them and each other. My "quiet" days are usually filled with cleaning and preparations for another round of company...your Cookie is pretty special, and maybe my cockatiel Belle would be a little jealous of his life.
Beautiful story Kathleen. We have had dogs, cats, tropical fish over the years, as well as outside animals but none that were with us that long. The longest was probably our daughter's GCH dairy goat, Sweet-Pea, who she loved to show and won many ribbons and trophys with. Had her about 10 yrs
what a pretty bird!! I did raise a cat bird once. my sister found it in the middle of the road, had fallen from teh nest.
No pets here. Sometimes I think I'd like to have one but not in the house unless it's a fish tank. love to watch fish. so relaxing
He's seen it all with you. I think that's so neat! Thanks, Kathleen, for sharing with us about Cookie.
debt settlement leads
Doesn't seem like it's been that long since you got Cookie.
Thanks for your wonderful post. You have hit the nail on the head. Our pets give so much to us when we are not looking. thank for making me look. I hope you many move years with Cookie.
This post brought tears to my eyes! I once read a piece by Elisabeth Elliot about Jesus being in the wilderness "with the wild beasts". I had always thought this meant that he was alone and afraid, but she felt that the wild beasts actually "ministered" to him in those 40 days in the wilderness! What an amazing revelation that was to me! My cat, Goldie, comforts me so as she even now sits in my lap as I type these words! My son had a dog, Prince, from age 5 to 21. Prince was at least 16 when he passed. I have always felt that Prince watched over him in some way. I found a dog on Petfinders.com the other day; a lovely dog named Nellie at a shelter in Ft. Davis, TX, but that is over 600 miles away from me! So I will wait and pray and see how the Lord leads me. V.
Cookie is a sweet companion, out pets do become very dear and members of our family. Over the years I have had many wonderful animals who have have given me much joy. Right now I have Lily, my rescue dog and I love her with all my heart.....hugs, Linda
What a heart-warming story about Cookie. This was such a sweet posting about this wonderful bird looking over you. What a blessing to have such a faithful pet. Have a great weekend.
Kathleen, that is so sweet! I don't know how people survive without pets. Ours give us so much more in companionship and love that we could ever repay! Thanks for sharing you Cookie.
cookie is a very good compaion i see. you two have been friends for many years.
What a great story of a loyal companion! you will get use to the quiet over time. Great story. Thanks for sharing it.
Teri♥♥♥
Oh what a sweet tribute to Cookie. I too have an aging and a bit crankie Sophie (aka Osama Bin Doggie she is a terrorist). She prefers quiet..and being alone in the house with me and Sir Quilt Dude.
Pat
Oh how sweet, Kathleen.... Cookie has been your companion through a lot, hasn't he?
Oh mine would be my horse, the longest of our "pets". Dirt and I bought our horses, Easy is mine, Roy is his, when our second oldest was two and our oldest was six. So she wasn't there at the beginning but she has been here the longest. She is an awesome horse, she helped me remember how to ride, was gentle enough to put total beginners on but spirited enough to take me for a heck of a ride once I regained my confidence. I did drill team with her, my daughters have all gamed with her and our not-daughters also used her to game and trail ride and now she watches the other horse go off to the gaming days and come back again.
Cookie sounds like he has had a grand life so far and will continue to bring you companionship in the quiet years. I had a taste of the quiet years tonight, boy it can actually get very quiet here.
I found your blog today and have enjoyed reading it!
What a wonderful, wonderful post and friend he has been!
Post a Comment