Friday:) Farewell Funeral For A Feathered Friend

“Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures. “– The Dalai Lama

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I don’t have any pets of my own right now, as I spent way too many years taking care of great big ol’ dogs that I never was even consulted on their purchase. They just were brought home. Now, I’m enjoying my non-furry freedom. Don’t get me wrong, I love animals and they certainly love me, but it’s nice to be able to come and go and travel without vets and boarding and walking and the ever popular, endless piles of poop.

Miss Kathy’s cats love me and visit daily, and I get to kitty sit when she travels. Mr. Mike’s Bella was always over when he traveled, but he’s moved away, so I see her rarely. And don’t forget, I’m the Cardinal whisperer. I talk to the birds when I’m out walking every day.

Here comes the sad part. I went for an early morning walk, before the heat set in. It’s 96° now, feels like 105°. I started my walk when it was only 83° this morning. I had made a couple of loops around the pond when I noticed something red in the street near the curb. Oh no! It was a beautiful cardinal. It lay there lifeless and broken. My heart ached.

I checked to see if he was still alive or breathing. He looked too mangled and lifeless. I was especially sad because I wondered if he was my friendly cardinal that would always whistle a happy song from the trees as I passed on my walks. I’d whistle back, and he’d reply. Poor thing.

I know it looks morbid to show a photo of a dead bird, but he was so beautiful, and I didn’t want him to be left in the street to get run over, mangled even more. I’m lucky that there are several doggie stations with plastic bags around the pond. I walked back and grabbed one, then carefully picked up the colorful creature.

It wouldn’t be right to throw him in the trash. So, I gently laid him to rest on the shady back side of a tall tree where he wouldn’t be seen from the sidewalk. I know his remains might be discovered by some other creature, but that is the nature of nature. But, I’m hoping that my crimson feathered friend might decompose and become one with the earth, become part of nature once again. No creature, great or small, should have lived unloved and unmourned. ❤️

Farewell my feathered friend.