One thing I will not do again is force my pet bird to travel. He went with me on a two-day visit by car, and he didn't eat anything but lettuce until he got home again.

It was a dreadful trip all around, anyway. I had gone to try to help a relative. But people don't change, and in the midst of my worry for her, I'd forgotten that people just don't goddamn change.

So it's time to spoil my bird with lots of nice fat mealworms and crushed peanuts, seeds, bits of hamburger, lettuce and anything else I can stuff in him. And his daytime floor area now takes up most of the living room and includes several new wooden huts which he is fond of hiding in to nap.

I think this bird is the only fun I have.