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June 2006 Dear Primates, Aves and Proboscidea, Where was Mary Lewis when we needed her? Our May speaker, Dr. Laurie Hess, was fantastic and so informative, but we needed Mary for her stimulating questions. Mary adds a dimension to our post speaker time. We need her. My cockatiels are so deliciously adorable. I get such pleasure from watching them play on the top of our kitchen cabinets. They fly around like this was their own private little universe (which it is). I turn on the water faucet to fill a glass and Antonio flies down on my hand and drinks his fill. He then flies back up to his "sky" to join Zeke, his dad, and they continue their little game of exploration and discovery. The best part is when I leave the room and they fly after me, landing on their living mobile perch which constitutes my shoulders and head. Sometimes I marvel at how wonderful a dog can be. Lola, my mixed dachshund, is my cockatiels friend. She will walk among them as they take their daily constitutional on the livingroom and kitchen floor. She places her feet very gingerly so that she does not step on them. Sometimes they fly onto her back and use her for a pony. Sebastian, my Dane, is just as gentle with them, but not nearly as solicitous. I bear in mind that not every dog reacts to the birds the way mine do, you have to be VERY VERY careful. Horrible news! My dog, Sebastian, died tonight, 5/25. He was the most wonderful dog I have ever known. We adopted him at the age of three months and I called him a gift from God. He was eleven years old, which is quite a good age for a great Dane, but he could have been thirty and it would not have been long enough for me. There is a terrible emptiness that he left behind. If there really is a heaven then Sebastian is there. I love him so much. A couple of days have gone by but every day is filled with the sick loneliness and empty feeling that ensues from losing something you adore. I sit on the couch with Lola and I see Sebastian out of the corner of my eye. I turn quickly and realize that he is not there and it is only in my mind. Pets add so much to our lives and then they have the audacity to die and leave us alone. This is so unfair. We have a delightful program in store for us. Donna Symczyk of Middlecreek Aviaries will talk to us about the parrots and parrot products she sells. Middlecreek Aviaries have always taken a very important corner at our show in October. I am sure everyone will enjoy her presentation. We will be celebrating our 19th anniversary this July. Our meeting will be held at Mr. Willy’s Restaurant on Rte 42, about two miles south of Monticello. We will have a full dinner there in a private room as we have had for the past several years as well as an excellent and educational program. Our guest speaker will be Chad Seewagon, a doctoral candidate in ornithology sent to us from the Bronx Zoo. Chad did some fascinating studies in New Guinea this year as well as studying the migratory habits of birds that pass through New York. It will our pleasure to have him and learn from him. Please let Matt or AnnMarie or Mark or me know whether or not you plan to be there. I have to let the restaurant know approximately how many people will be attending. I will let you know the amount for the dinner at the meeting. It is also the night that we pay our dues for the coming year. The dues have not changed, they are still $18 for a single membership or $24 for a family.........A bargain, if I must say so myself. People, have a wonderful evening and a great month.....For all the birds......................... Love, Richie |
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