On September 2nd, 2006, Buttons, a faithful companion, pet, and friend of 21 years passed away. Buttons will always be remembered by Terri Johnson and her family. Terri now will share Button's story with the rest of us. Buttons lived a very long and happy life with her family who loved her very much. As we read Button's story, we will all be reminded of us just how important our Love Birds are in our lives and to value the time we have with them. Thank you to Terri J. for sharing Buttons with us.
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Buttons became our pet when my first child was off to
kindergarten. My daughter is now 26 and expecting her
first baby. I remember that the bird was one week old
at the pet shop and they gave me a brown bag, poked
holes in it and sent me home with the bird. Buttons
was pied and was bright yellow with turqoise under
feathers.
We named her Buttons because her eyes looked like
buttons and she enjoyed chewing all Buttons off remote
controls for TVs. A costly adventure for us.
One beautiful warm July day, I left Buttons on our
deck outside in a very wooded area, while I ran to the
store. I returned to find her cage had been blown to
the ground and Buttons was no where to be seen. I ran
around the neighborhood calling for her and hearing
her call. I found her in a tall tree next door. She
was shaking with fear as to how she even got up that
high. I returned with a ladder and was able to talk
her to my hand. That was the first time we almost lost
her. But I found she really trusted me.
I was a a piano major at one time and Buttons was my
constant companion at the piano while I practiced for
college juries. Buttons came to love music. She had a
way of swaying to the music.
She always took her shower in the kitchen sink at
least once per week. She jumped in the sink on her own and
knew exactly what to do.
She was not out of her cage as much in her early years,
as she was later in her life.
We loved birds so much we tried to add a Conure parrot
to the family. We had the Conure about one year.
The Conure came out of her cage often and was
comfortable doing so. Buttons was very jealous.
The Conure went on to another family as the connection
just did not work.
When the Conure left us, Buttons became much more
affectionate and wanted to come out of her cage more
to be with us. We were able to toilet train her at
this time as well.
When Buttons acquired ear infections, she needed
administration of ear drops and medicine in her mouth.
My husband was the best at doing this. It seems that
Buttons found that what my husband did was to cause
her no more ear pain., Buttons became very close to my
husband during this time, and he started giving
Buttons massages of her head and ears on a regular
basis. The bird just loved this treatment. Buttons
began at this time cleaning out the corners of my
husbands eyes (the stuff the sandman leaves) and
giving him small kisses all over. One time my husband
almost went out the door in the morning with the bird
on his shoulders, taking him to work with him.
Here are some of things that made Buttons so very unique.
On weekends, I always enjoyed my afternoon naps, a
luzury I could not take part in during the week., It
became habit, that Buttons took naps with me, She
always slept in the nape of the neck, at the place
where she could feel the most warmth. She liked my
long hair and climbed in under it as if it were her
nest. She also slept often in my husbands hand.
Buttons helped me clean house when she was younger and
always stayed on my shoulder, no matter what housework
I was up to. She hung on and wanted to be with me.
Buttons started to have very small strokes maybe five
years ago.She lost vision in one eye and then the
other. She became more affectionate during this time
and wanted to be with us whenever we were home. She
was very dependent on us but did not seem to be in any
pain at all. Even her last day of life, she was doing
tricks on her perch for me. She had a nice meal of
broccoli hand fed to her by her dad. She was happy.
Things I miss the most: We live in a two story building.
When my husband or I came home and opened our mail
box downstiars, Buttons would hear us or know the time
of day. She would start chirping and I could hear her as
I came up the stairs. She knew when we were coming home.
She had a following of doves that came to our balcony
on a daily basis. They seemed to love her and still
come now. I wish I could tell them that she is in
heaven.
I know she lived a very full life. We were the lucky
ones, my family to have experienced such a unique,
affectionate bird.
Birds are such wonderful pets and provide such
unconditional love. Buttons will always be in my soul.
Terri M. Johnson
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