Tweety — A Lesson in Letting Go

The Ethical Will of Donald Armstrong, Part 6

For an explanation of what an ‘Ethical Will’ is, please see my previous post, ‘I Leave to You … Whatever Wisdom I May Have Gained.’

I don’t know why I have always been fascinated with birds, but it has been a lifelong passion of mine. Perhaps I intuitively knew that these odd creatures, who came in so many different shapes, sizes and colors, were the survivors of an ancient and very different world — a world that passed away long before the first human arrived on this lonely planet. Or perhaps, as a toddler, I saw one of our feathered companions land near me, cock its head and fix unbroken gaze on me as it sought to determine whether I was friend or foe. And just perhaps, in that moment, I recognized a kindred spirit … and saw the cure for my own loneliness.

When the holidays rolled around each year, my Dad’s mother would ask each of her ten grandchildren what we wanted for the holidays. That was an extraordinary thing … an adult, other than our parents, who bought what we truly wanted (rather than buying each of us a trio of Haines underwear, and assorted socks). So when I was seven or eight, I was ready for the question: I wanted a parakeet. I didn’t know much about them — didn’t even realize at the time that budgerigars (sold in the dime store as “parakeets”)…