Trying to Cope

[QuackQuack]

As some of you know, when I was a little girl my mom got me a Congo African Grey which with her help I handfed. My mom's plan was always to let my bird live at my parent's home while I had to live in the dorms in college. I would take him with me ASAP, and she even said if he had trouble with whoever I married or my children she would continue to keep him. He was my buddy growing up. He was always interesting to introduce to prospective dates As life sometimes does, it threw a wrench and my mother passed away when I was a teen. With her gone, when it came time to go to school I sold him to a friend and knew he would be OK. He is now about 13, and I miss him so much . I Facebook stalk my former fid and miss him often. He had an impressive vocabulary, and I believe we communicated coherently (not that we didn't have lots of incoherent conversations ) I guess I'm just venting. I'm sad because I know I could easily have him now and things would be fine. Anyone else have an experience like this? I do know I did best by him by not letting him be neglected for years while I was in college converting into a wild plucker or something....tough love!
My husband told me that he was happy to buy a baby for me to raise or let me adopt a CAG in need. I'm just not feeling it. I want MY bird

Any thoughts? Advice? Words of wisdom?

 

[Molcan2]

I have guilt as well. When i was in high school my mom (who suffers from manic deppresant/bi-polar) gave away my first parrot while i was at school. He was a U2 named Cotton, to this day i habe no idea where he is. She did the same with one of my horses as well. That was 8 years ago and still bothers me.

My biggest regret was giving away my two tiels 3yrs ago . I did it because i thought i had no other option. Looking back i could of made it work. The woman that took them gave them to someome else, so i have no idea where they are . I check criags list all the time looking for them and would do anything to get them back. A part of me always hurts because of this.

 

[TortoiseLady17]

It can be hard to do what is right by a pet you love. You made the right decision for your beloved pet at the time. If he is in a good home that is loving him as you would, I would let him stay, though it would be hard. You could talk to the guy though and let him know that if for any reason he can no longer care for him or doesn't want him to contact you first.

 

[QuackQuack]

His adoptive family is very good to him, but they do know I would take him back. I've offered to buy him from them before at a ridiculously high price for their trouble. They politely declined, so I accept that he is in a home that loves him.

 

[Sulphiria]

CAGs are amazing. I dont know what i would do if i lost him. Im sorry for what youre going through. Im sure when the time is right, that another cag will enter your life and you will just know it was meant to be.

 

[cdog]

My parents had to give away the two big dogs we had when I was little because my sister was scared of them, I loved them very much and we used to take naps together. We gave one to a ranch and I have never seen her again and we gave one to a family a couple miles away so we used to drive pass their house and look at him but recentley we haven't seen him so I believe he died, but he died with a great family. I still think about him now. I try not to think about them too much.
As long as your grey is with a good family I think it will be okay.

 

[QuackQuack]

Thanks for sharing your stories with me. I feel lucky to know where he is and continue to know he is well. It seems others have not has this gift!