Larry, Baby and Me
12-17-2007, 12:58 PM
The Little Chick That Grew Up
Here is a little story about me and why I have such a passion for birds.
I was 4-1/2 years old when on Easter morning my brother, my cousin, and I were each given little baby colored chicks. They were called Pee-Pees. Mine was blue and I named him Charley. Well - my brother's soon died and then my cousin's. But in my little hands Charley thrived. I got up early each morning to give him fresh water and food - I remember it was corn meal and the water bottle was something my Grandfather had rigged up. It was similar to the Lixit bottles we have today.
Over a short period of time Charley lost his blue dye coloring and turned a wonderful brown with little speckles of black and white mixed in. I kept feeding Charley and he kept getting bigger. When finally, my Grandmother didn't appreciate this chicken running around the house. So... it was decided to take Charley to my Great Aunt's farm where he could roam free and have a better life than running around in the kitchen under foot. You see - I was not consulted in this matter because I was only 4-1/2 years old. So off to the farm with me in the back seat and Charley on my lap. I do remember him looking out the window at all the wonderful things passing by.
We finally got to the farm... but I don't remember much about our visit there that day. I was told by my Uncle Frank that Charley would have a wonderful time with them and all their other chickens. And I could come back in the summertime to visit Charley. So I resigned myself to the fact that Charley was not coming back home with me but he had to stay with Aunt Annie and Uncle Frank.
Time passed... you know how it is with a small child - it was forever till summer. Then we took our usual summer weekend trip to the farm. I didn't see Charley anywhere. I tried to find him but he just wasn't anywhere around. Later that day we all sat down to Sunday dinner. We always had big meals when we went to visit Aunt Annie and Uncle Frank. You know the kind... mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, corn, and "fried chicken".
Yep... you guessed it... we had Charley for dinner - not as a guest - but on the plate.
I am 63 years old and I can still see the entire event clearly in my mind.
So... now I think you have a better understanding of why I have such a passion for saving our birds.
Here is a little story about me and why I have such a passion for birds.
I was 4-1/2 years old when on Easter morning my brother, my cousin, and I were each given little baby colored chicks. They were called Pee-Pees. Mine was blue and I named him Charley. Well - my brother's soon died and then my cousin's. But in my little hands Charley thrived. I got up early each morning to give him fresh water and food - I remember it was corn meal and the water bottle was something my Grandfather had rigged up. It was similar to the Lixit bottles we have today.
Over a short period of time Charley lost his blue dye coloring and turned a wonderful brown with little speckles of black and white mixed in. I kept feeding Charley and he kept getting bigger. When finally, my Grandmother didn't appreciate this chicken running around the house. So... it was decided to take Charley to my Great Aunt's farm where he could roam free and have a better life than running around in the kitchen under foot. You see - I was not consulted in this matter because I was only 4-1/2 years old. So off to the farm with me in the back seat and Charley on my lap. I do remember him looking out the window at all the wonderful things passing by.
We finally got to the farm... but I don't remember much about our visit there that day. I was told by my Uncle Frank that Charley would have a wonderful time with them and all their other chickens. And I could come back in the summertime to visit Charley. So I resigned myself to the fact that Charley was not coming back home with me but he had to stay with Aunt Annie and Uncle Frank.
Time passed... you know how it is with a small child - it was forever till summer. Then we took our usual summer weekend trip to the farm. I didn't see Charley anywhere. I tried to find him but he just wasn't anywhere around. Later that day we all sat down to Sunday dinner. We always had big meals when we went to visit Aunt Annie and Uncle Frank. You know the kind... mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, corn, and "fried chicken".
Yep... you guessed it... we had Charley for dinner - not as a guest - but on the plate.
I am 63 years old and I can still see the entire event clearly in my mind.
So... now I think you have a better understanding of why I have such a passion for saving our birds.