Rainbow

Today is my lovebird, Rainbow's "birth"day. That was when I discovered him. He was a lost bird and somehow landed on our ground and there were about 4 people who saw him first and one of them called me. Somehow the bird came to me and that's how and when he was "born"! I don't know how old he really was then but he lived with me and moved with me up North and eventually lived with me and Norman when we got married, and he lived for 17 years, plus whatever his age was when I found him or when he found me, or rather, when we found each other! They say that's long life for a small bird. Such a sweet bird, such great personality! We were "Mom and Dad" to him! One of my neighbors who owned a bird shop for 20 years once said, "Rainbow doesn't know he's a bird. He thinks he's people!"

Everybody loved Rainbow! Everyone loved to visit with him and took turns to bird-sit when I was away.

In the beginning, whenever I did TM, he would make noise. But he was a great observer. He noticed I was silent and still when I did my program. He learned to be quiet too and not disturb me. The only time he'd call my attention again was when he saw me about to lie down and rest after TM. That's when he wanted out of his cage to join me in bed then he'd be still again until I finish my whole program.

One time, he got very sick and everybody thought he wouldn't recover but he did. And as the Verills remarked, '' Don't they know Rainbow is a meditator?!"

When we had parties at the compound, you think I was the center of attention when I played the piano?? No, Rainbow would sit on my shoulder or on either arm and he stayed there while I played and people were simply entertained, not by me but by him! He didn't know that, he was just happy being with me and surrounded by people. He had a great time!!

And boy, he just knew when Norman was close to home from work or wherever. About 15 minutes before Norman would arrive, Rainbow would face the door and start chirping a particular sound to indicate "Daddy" was coming home. He doesn't chirp long, just enough to "announce" Norman is nearby. One morning he started to chirp and Norman wasn't there. So I thought it was all coincidence. Then Norman arrived with a bag of bagels. So Rainbow was right again! He knew Norman was in the neighborhood, but Norman stopped by Noah's Bagels so he came 5-10" later than usual.

Rainbow died 4 years ago while I was in L.A. to attend my niece's debut. When I called Norman about 9 pm to tell him I had arrived in L.A., he told me Rainbow was not doing well. He was fine that morning so I thought when I came back, we could bring him to the vet. Norman didn't know what to tell me or how to say Rainbow was more serious than what he was trying to describe. In other words, he was being cautious to break the news. Rainbow was dying. I called him every few minutes to check until finally he said Rainbow wasn't moving at all and I told him to put the phone on Rainbow's ear so I could talk to him. I told Rainbow I was going home soon, to wait for me, and so on, and I kept saying, "I love you, Rainbow," over and over and then Norman said, "He moved," so I thought he was gonna get well. About an hour later, Norman called to say Rainbow had just died in his hands...


Rainbow must've wanted just to hear my voice one more time before passing on. It still touches me whenever I remember.

No wonder, the day before I left, Thursday morning, Norman brought him to our bedroom and said, "He wants to come to you."

"How'd you know?", he just shrugged.

Sunday mornings were Rainbow's day with us in the bedroom. But how'd he know it was Sunday? Maybe he didn't, but like all other animals, they just know when it's time to migrate and when it's time to come back. Rainbow knew his routine. But that was Thursday. Then the next day, Friday, as I was leaving for work and later for my trip, he kept calling me from the kitchen, I didn't know why. I had to go back at least twice to hold him and stay with him for a while. He just wanted to be with me.

Norman must've intuitively known Rainbow wanted to come to me that Thursday. Rainbow knew I was going away. He always knew when we'd go away, seeing our luggages. He didn't like seeing us pack in the beginning until he learned the routine. He had another kind of chirp for that, as if asking, but not complaining, "You're leaving again?", he simply understood.

Rainbow was saying goodbye to me. He knew he was going...

I miss Rainbow so dearly. I wrote a song for him when he died. If I find the lyrics, I'll sing it. I don't remember all of it. Let me look for it...

I love you, Rainbow. We miss you. We'll come visit you soon. I promise.