Wheels!!!!

Learner's permit....check.  Drivetime......check.  Getting your driver's license......SCORE!!  Getting your first car.....PRICELESS!!(well, maybe not PRICEless)  Yip......Frick and Frack are legal drivers.  Please send gas money!!!

It's Been Two Weeks.....

Since Smack's heart was broken into a bazillion pieces.  It's a sad story but started out a happy one two years ago with a little boy who visited the pet store everyday wishing and hoping that the Quaker parrot could be his.  He would call me everyday after school to say he was heading to the pet store to visit the parrot who was named.....Quaker.  My cubby buddy would chuckle when my cell would ring at 3:30 and it be Smack talking about Quaker.  My work buddies found it hilarious one day as I made a trip down the hall to the little girl's room and upon my return to my desk, they had plastered my cubby with parrot pictures.  I had parrot emails sent from others on how to train a parrot.  There were pictures of parrots in my desk drawers, stuck to my crackers, my diet coke can, computer......parrots everywhere. 

Bear and I decided that Quaker would be his surprise Christmas gift.  The only trick was that we were heading to the frozen tundra and a parrot would so need a parka.  So I went into the pet store and talked with the owner and he agreed to keep Quaker there until we returned.  Of course, Quaker was paid for and put on hold and all the employees knew the plan.  But for some reason it slipped one day when Smack visited that Quaker was sold.  Oh my goodness, there were tears.  Bear and him made a trip in there and the owner felt so bad but assured Smack that Quaker was still available.  Phew!!  So Christmas Eve as Smack unwrapped a parrot toy, a confused look appeared on his face.  He held the toy and as I said that Quaker was waiting at the pet store back home states and states away, his face lit up like the Christmas tree he was standing by.  Oh, he could hardly wait to head back home.  I am sure the road trip back home felt like forever.

The morning after we arrived home, Smack was so ready to go get Quaker.  We arrived at the pet store and the owner was as excited as Smack was.  Quaker was put into cardboard box shaped like a house with windows and an orange roof.  Smack smiled all the way home proud as a peacock.  The birdcage was set up in the corner in the kitchen.  We all gathered around the kitchen table as Smack opened the box and Quaker slowly emerged to his new home. 





Quaker started out in the kitchen then was moved to the family room.  He was a chatty thing and whenever someone walked into the family room or came in the door, he would say, "Hi, Quaker!"  He learned to chirp bark like the dogs when the doorbell rang.  Quaker moved from the family room to the guest room and then up to Smack's room.

Smack and Quaker were inseparable and they were best friends. 

I have used past tense to tell this story as Quaker passed away November 14, 2010. Smack found him and well.......as you can imagine he was devastated, crushed, shocked, upset, screaming, "Quaker, Quaker, please wake up.....I'm so sorry. Please wake up!!" Smack took two fingers and started chest compressions. It was so sad. Smack's little heart was broken into a million pieces. It hurt so bad seeing my child so upset and suffering.

The next night after work, we had a parrot funeral. Quaker was laid to rest next to Riley, Scott and Mary's dog that passed last year, in their backyard. Smack asked me bring the camera and we said goodbye to Quaker.  

Smack is still sad and fights the tears from time to time.  We were looking at pictures on my computer and came across the ones of when Quaker first came home.  Smack's eyes filled with tears.  We had to have a little hug. 

Smack misses Quaker.  I miss Quaker even tho he was messy and chattered up a storm.  But I will never forget when you walked into Smack's room and Quaker would say, "Hi, Quaker!" to you.  Rest in peace, QUAKER!!  We all loved you!

Stockyards Visit With Papa!!