When a little parrot you have never seen before
trips clumsily over the fragment of a mung bean sprout
you have placed on the balcony ledge
of the resort you have brought your mother to, to celebrate her 82nd birthday,
you hold the rest of the mung bean sprout in the palm of your outstretched hand
and smile when that little parrot takes it and flies away,
its wings flapping once
like a wink.
That sentence was too long and I don’t know if I have punctuated it properly for poetry. But I do remember advising my creative writing students to use commas when they felt the need.
Ming, Meg and I spent some time together at this wonderful resort and, thanks to Wifi, my mother was able to receive the multiple birthday messages from family and friends. We all thought the little parrot would come back as it seemed so tame. Having taken multiple photos of a similarly tame-seeming kookaburra, it seemed inevitable that the little parrot would return for a photo shoot – ha.
I had seen Ants and fed him his lunch on the day I drove us down south to the beautiful resort. My mother and I were supposed to check in at 2pm but I was delayed because Anthony was in ‘agony’ (his unusually dramatic words, whispered to me) due to constipation. Once that the situation was remedied and he was back in his armchair and comfortable, I told him I was taking my mother out for lunch for her birthday.
Anthony: I think I might stay here.
Me: That’s fine, Ants. I’ll see you after the birthday lunch.
48 hours later, my mother and I arrived at the nursing home in time for me to feed Ants his lunch again. He didn’t appear to realise that I had been gone for longer than a day which was a blessing to me.
During our time at the resort, my mother and I basked in the luxury of the beautiful view, the wonderful wineries, the gift-shops where I found unusual wine glasses (my latest hobby). My mother found a fantastic onyx ring which absolutely made my day. And we walked through the rather magical gardens – just us the first time, then with Ming who came down laden with three varieties of Bailey’s Irish Cream – his birthday present for Grandma.
I saw the kookaburra once more, from a distance.
My mother recollected how much I cried and cried after placing Anthony in the nursing home and I admitted that I didn’t remember this phase. I know I can look back on my blog and re-see that pain but I don’t want to because it is all fine now; Anthony, Ming and I have accepted that it is what it is….
Happy birthday, my beautiful mother – thank you for your support and love for all of us, not just me. I have learned the most important life lessons from you – to be ready for anything and to always, always, get back up from a fall.
And I know that parrot’s address
like a wink….
jmgoyder 
Happy Birthday Meg! ❤
Diana xo
You write so movingly and I loved the poem.
What a beautiful post — and poem. I felt like I was there with you embraced in the warmth and love you share with your mother and son and Ants and all the world — happy birthday Meg! ❤
Happ birthday to your lovely mother! Hugs Jules 🙂
The poem was perfect, and the birthday respite equally lovely..happiest of birthdays to your mom!
I am so glad you were able to bond once again with your mother and MIng. We shall always treasure these new memories, placing them in the scrapbook of our heart
i love the poem and i love how you all have come to accept the change of seasons in all of your lives. i’m glad you had the time away and happy birthday to meg )
A well deserved outing.
Sounds like you had a good time, Bailey’s Irish Cream yummy just saying
Sounds like a wonderful escape from the usual routine and what better way to spend it than with the ones you love.
It must be hard in your life to spread your time among so many who need you.
In one way, its good that Anthony’s perception of time away from you is fleeting. Must be reassuring that you can spend more time with Ming and your Mother than you might have when Anthony first entered the Nursing Home.
Once
When God was rummaging through
His bag of goodies
Trying to decide
Which one to give me
His hand fell on something
Warm and beautiful
Soft but strong
Gentle but resilient
Funny but deep
Clever but naive
Unselfish but indulgent
Gullible but wise
Fragile but tensile strong
Unsure but determined
Forgiving but perceptive
All wrapped in one.
“Ah yes,” He said,
“This is the one!”
And He gave me a daughter.
Thank you my lovely daughter for this special birthday.
Oh Mama – this is beautiful x
Absolutely awesome! A sentiment from a mother’s loving heart❤️
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Happy birthday to your mom Julie 🙂
So glad you had a lovely break.
So glad you allowed yourself to have a lovely break.
A lovely tribute to your beautiful mother and to your whole family who endure life’s hardships. God bless you.
P.S. ~ would love to have had you as my instructor in creative writing. The one I had scrutinized over every single comma,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 😉❤️
I wanted to add Jules, that God given-time to restore ourselves and bask in His blessings are always needed and you should never feel guilty for receiving that gift.