Flying the Coop and a load of poop

Finally out of the nest and into the real world.

It's been a rough couple of days.

I could write about how yesterday was the White Party Beach Party (an awesome event I haven't missed in years) and how I didn't go because I wasn't in a happy mood and really couldn't afford it.

I could write about how I got really sick and spent the whole night exploding from both ends. Puke and poop... puke and poop... all night! Ugh.

I could write about how I just got back from the MRI place where I had many novocaine needles stuck in my shoulder to make it less painful when they put a big ole needle into the joint between my arm and shoulder and pumped it full of liquid dye that would show up on the MRI. And then I spent an hour and a half in the MRI coffin. And that now my shoulder hurts like hell and also feels that it is completely dislocated.

I could write about how I'm feeling alone and disconnected from the world around me.

Or I could write about how one of my baby birds has finally left the nest. Tentatively, at first. It just kinda hopped out onto the branch in front of the nest. Then it took a short and jerky flight to the mess of plants that sits on the other side of the cage. It spent a long while there just checking out the world outside the nest. Birds would come over and check him out and he showed no fear at all. I guess it's doesn't know about hurt and fear and pain having been protected and nurtured in the nest by it's parents. The simple joy of innocence, where the world seems magical and nothing seems harmful.

Of course, I was a nervous wreck for the fragile little bird. What if it fell the long distance to the hard cage floor and snapped its neck? What if one of the bigger birds decided to show its dominance over it and pecked it to death? What if its parents abandoned it before it was ready to be on its own?

But none of that happened. Its legs got steadier as it perched and its flight got stronger and more controlled. It mingled nicely with the other birds. Its parents kept checking on it and it finally found it's way back to its nest and its sibling when it was time to take a nap.

I guess I worried for nothing. I need to remember that and apply that to myself right now. My legs will steady themselves again. I will find my way back home where I belong again. And, hopefully, I will fly again.
Making new friends already.

Dad (on the bottom with the little black marking under it's eyes) and Mom (on the top) keep checking on the little baby. It's beak is still black so you can't tell if it's a boy or girl yet. Males have a deep red beak and females have a lighter, orange beak. Gay ones have lavender beaks of course.