I know we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff. Instead we should celebrate the little things. I try to abide by both but am not always successful. Recently, however, I had a big day due to three little things.
First, I added a new block to my walk outside, traveling a route I had not taken for five years since my vision loss. It meant crossing two more streets than the circuit I had been doing, something no longer as easy for me as it is for the chicken.
Second, I was able to cover Piper, our parrot, with a hand towel and pick him up in it. Non-parrots, no need to reach for your phones to call animal welfare services, this is quite normal behavior for birdies (think foodies). It’s standard SAB* procedure for handling our feathered friends during a veterinary visit so the doctor can easily hold them in one hand and listen to their heart, look in their mouth and give them a complete once over. We had to chase Piper around the exam room last year at his annual wellness appointment because he sees the towel and heads for zee hills. Also, if we ever have to administer medicine to him via an eye dropper into his mouth we would wrap him in a towel. And if we ever need to remove him from our house in an emergency we can keep him safe swaddled carefully. It’s important that both he and I are used to the process so we practice. I make a game of it, covering him then taking it right off and making a fuss. But I am often not quick enough to be able to gently pick him up in the towel. This day, however, I went for it and Piper went along with it .
And lastly, I discovered some features of the Notes app on my Apple devices that I will share in an upcoming post. It took a lot to figure out how to get them but I persevered with anger and cursing.
Would these be my three wishes upon rubbing a lamp? No. Those desires are reserved for the things not in my own power to make happen. Pushing myself physically and mentally and taking care of Piper can be a challenge but I can do them. A genie could change my life but the things I accomplish change ME.
* SOB = Safely Avoiding Beak
