April 19, 2022, I woke up to a sad sight. Mel had died.  Not sure if it was the night before or on the date I found him. He was cold and stiff to the touch. 

    Sniff, sniff...I miss you, Mel.

      You were a good bird.  For all three years of your short-lived life, you smiled, chirped, enjoyed hanging upside down in your cage, and you liked your swing to be crooked since you had a deformed foot.  This was due to your father bird's pecking at it shortly after your birth.

      Perhaps, you felt stressed out and struggled to stay alive.

       Although I will never completely understand why you passed away on my Mother-in-law's birthday this year, I loved you. I took good care of you and made sure your cage was cleaned once a week.  

        No matter what you were my favorite bird, Mel. You were well behaved. You rarely bit me and for that thank you.  You were always happy to see me when I fed you or gave you Millet. You could have had a weak heart for all I know. You did always get nervous if you got loose from your cage, and I carried you back to it. I was gentle and talked to you to calm you down. Once, back inside your cage you always calmed down and felt at peace.

           -Summer out!