When I was telling a friend about a new bird acquisition the other day, she said “do you think you might be getting a bit manic?” I was perturbed about this remark so later I began to do a count of the birds and when I reached 50, and was still counting, I thought maybe she was right.
So, the next day, I told another friend about this and asked her if she, too, thought I was manic about the birds but she shook her head reassuringly. “Do you think I’m weird?” I pushed and, shocking us both into hysterics, she said, without the slightest hesitation, “Yes.”
Okay I admit I do look a bit weird in this photo but I think it’s the hideously old-fashioned sunglasses, not the emu on my lap.
jmgoyder 
some may see your love of birds as an eccentric yet charming part of who you are. the question is does it interfere with your life? are you able to care for them? if the answers are no and yes chances are good that you have just surrounded yourself with these beautiful and funny winged creatures for very healthy (mental) reasons. not that you asked my opinion but as a professional and someone who loves birds but has too many cats I thought I would chime in. I am enjoying your postings very much:)
It is refreshing to receive a comment that expresses a couple of qualms – thank you! To answer your first question: well, yes it does interfere with our lives, but in a good way, i.e. in terms of my husband whose illness has altered him from a talkative, gregarious person to someone who is mostly silent, the birds have provided us with some much-needed conversation and laughs (we used to laugh all the time). There is nothing funnier than watching an emu run! To answer your second question: most of the birds are self-sufficient because they free-range over a substantial acreage and I have developed some feeding and watering strategies that make it very easy. However, you’ve got me thinking about my caring priorities and I thank you for that too!
That wee emu looks adorable, Julie, and NO, you’re not weird at all.
You just have that nurturing and caring personality that makes you special. Bird and animal lovers can get a little eccentric at times, but never weird.
Ah, eccentric, okay!
We have something in common I love birds too. In fact, I live birds 6 days a week. I run a wild bird store. Love the emu.
Oh, if I only I lived closer I would be your best customer!
Well I only have two but I want more! They are like potato chips, you can’t have just one 🙂 When I got my first bird all of my friends made fun of me. “A bird?” “OMG Why did you get a bird???” “What are you going to do with a bird???” “What, are you going to start hanging out in the park feeding the pigeons now?” blah blah blah,,,,,
I used to think that people that had birds were a bit weird too but now that I have a couple, I see how frigging fabulous they are! If you have the time and money to care for them, I say who cares what other people think?
Thanks – I just had a look at the doudou – fantastic!