Post by clt80 on Feb 4, 2018 10:35:00 GMT
Today is the second anniversary of Gene's passing. I think about him often, and just wanted to do something in his remembrance for him today.
Most of you will know, but for those who don't, I came across Gene by fate. I'd taken Bertie to my vets and they asked me if I would be willing to give a home to another budgie; I said yes. He'd been brought in by his breeder as he had 'problems' and he asked the vet to put Gene to sleep as a chick. My vet refused and said she would find him a home. They housed him upstairs at the vets in a vivarium with a perch made from plasters wrapped around a plastic stick. He had no toys. It was a makeshift home for him. My heart actually broke when I saw him in it.
They got a little box and Gene came home with me sat on the passenger seat of my car whilst Bertie was in his cage in the back seat. None once did Gene try to get out of that box, it must of been dark and scary. But he made the one hour journey home to my house.
He was welcomed into his new cage, with proper perches and toys and a plethora of food to try. I will never forget his little face when he saw the steel ball - they were his favourite. He would banging his beak on there constantly!! I got him 4 in the end and hung them in a row - it was like listening to a steel drum orchestra as he ran up and down banging them His prized possession was his disco ball - of which I still have. When i saw it in the shop I thought 'my god that has Gene written all over it and got it for him'.
He had a bad start in life, and was plagued by illness, particularly his eyes. He had missing feathers and couldn't fly, he could just flutter. He'd come upstairs with me in the office when I worked at home and would sit on the desk squarking away as I played budgie tweets on youtube for him. He use to like sitting on my shoulder and rubbing his pinny head on my neck. I can still remember how soft his feathers were, and the unique little beautiful smell he had.
My great hope for him would be that he could go in the aviary and interact with the others. He did go in a few times for short periods when I was changing food and water in there. But he was never really accepted so always came back inside with me.
He was such a fighter, but the last illness was too much for him and on Thursday 4 February 2016 my husband picked him up to remove a feather in his eye and Gene passed away in his hands. I knew my my OH's face when he came upstairs to tell me that I'd lost my Gene.
He is now buried with the others gone to Rainbow Bridge in my garden, near the aviary with gladioli bulbs on top of his grave. The other budgies have crocuses and irises on top of their graves, but Gene was different in his own way so he has Gladioli.
I still miss and love you Gene. Hopefully we will meet again.
xxxx