Summer in the Poconos

Hi -- my name is 707 (Seven O'Seven). I'm a blue masked lovebird. I'm only 11 months old and since my birth at 33rd and Bird the only person I've been with is my mom.

This summer she took me to the Poconos and I met some great friends. We went by car but she didn't make me ride in my cage. I sat on the back of the seat. I jabbered with the driver the whole way. If he didn't pay attention to me I bit his ear. He said it hurt a lot, so I kept on doing it.

When we got there, we unpacked and I met Uncle Bill and Hannibal. Uncle Bill is owner and chef of Hampton Court Inn and Hannibal is his adopted son. He's a blue and gold macaw. He scared me at first, but mom put my cage on top of his so we got acquainted fast. Every time mom let him out he ran to the top of his cage and all around mine looking for a way to bite me. I wasn't even scared -- I just thought, "How rude!"

He taught me some bad things -- if mom ignored me for too long, I'd pick up my seed dish and dump it on the floor. It's heavy. Hannibal does it all the time. He talks a lot; he's great company.

When the phone rings he sort of picks it up with a "Hello" and has a 2-way conversation with himself like -- Uh huh; yeah; ok; alright and a bunch of other gibberish -- then he says Bye-bye.

Mom took us outdoors a lot -- our wings are clipped. Hannibal plays on the clothesline -- he talks to the cars going by. He cursed one day, yelled out "Oh my God". My mom was shocked.

I was so happy to talk with my wild cousins. Most of the time I sit in mom's shirt pocket -- it's so cozy. I peek out once in awhile, but I love sleeping in it. Mom says I say "peek-a-boo." I wish she'd change my name to that because I'm just so darn cute.

We came home the end of August and made a side trip to New Jersey. My mom's friend has four cats but she loves me too. I pretty much ignore the cats and they me. But one afternoon we were watching a movie and I lost my grip on mom's shirt and slid to the floor. Before I knew it -- Samantha was chasing me. She picked me up several times and I squealed, but then she'd drop me and I'd run like hell. Bu then mom caught up to her and when she let go, mom grabbed me. Whew! That was a close one! I wasn't hurt at all, but I heard mom say to her friend, "She's a goner". Samantha was only playing with me ....I think?

Life goes on as usual, my "nine lives," so to speak, have been reduced by one -- but I'm none the worse for wear.

Hope your summer was grand!

707

(Ed. Note: B.A.B.A. recommends traveling with your bird in a cage, with the cage firmly restrained with a seatbelt. Additionally, this story points that disaster can occur to anyone in the blink of an eye. Please stay focused on safety!)