Sister Rain’s Note:
In 2015, I published 9.5 parts of “Piper & Me: A Love Story.” Beginning in March 2024 I reposted them weekly. I have since written new chapters and will continue to do so. If you would like to read any of the parts, type “Piper & Me” in the search bar.
About a month after waking up blind, a slight light perception returned, followed by the identification of shadows, then movement of something in my field of vision. These positive signs came before the visual snow – think static on an old TV – replaced the total darkness. Despite the upward trajectory (there was nowhere to go but up), after the snow arrived, spring did not. My sight has remained as it was at the start of 2013.
Since I did not know my vision would not further improve, I remained in a holding pattern, biding my time to do this or that when I could see properly again. The one thing that was not waiting was Piper and my relationship with him. I do believe that Piper had begun to love me, even if solely because I filled his water and food bowls. But I would take anything he was willing to bestow upon me as I continued to give everything I had to him. As I regained a little sight, I acquired some confidence in regard to handling Piper. Although I would not be the one to pick him up, I would allow my husband to put him on my leg or my hand. I was still nervous about being bitten, but there didn’t seem to be any other way to create trust in both directions, or to offer each other a degree of comfort that only comes from contact. I did get bit, but not as often as I was expecting. There were a lot of two steps forward, three steps back. As I passed the time until I could see again, Piper was the project I didn’t know then that I needed. In retrospect, my sole purpose was to take care of his needs while forging a bond so at the very least, he did not feel the need to defend himself or show us who was boss. (Twelve years later he is still the boss, but now he demonstrates it by vocalization instead of bites.)
As is common, the visitors to our house lessened after the immediate outpouring of support which seemed to relax Piper. Over time he got used to people coming over. He was ever watchful, but did not feel the need to raise the roof with his noisy protests.
It took a good two years for me and my doctors to realize that my vision was not coming back, and about the same amount of time for Piper to feel safe and secure enough to cease his aggressive behavior.
It was at this point, when Piper’s initial healing from whatever had come before for him was complete that I had to begin to process the fact that I was most likely going to spend the rest of my life with very little sight. My mental recovery took much longer than Piper’s but he was there to show me the way. He had come so far, my only choice was to do the same. I was grateful to have his company, as well as the promise I had made to him when I asked Jeanne at A Helping Wing Parrot Rescue & Sanctuary if she and Piper would give their blessing for Mister Rain and me to become his parronts. It was time to get on with it, to figure out what was next for me in my new reality. I had my husband, wonderful family and friends. And I had Piper.
People often ask me why I don’t get a guide dog. There are a lot of reasons which I will save for another day. I am here to tell you, though, that a 100 gram parrot can help lead you where you need to go.
#sisterrain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #piperandmealovestory
