Comforting Treats (for Alex)

I know that this evening, I am in for an amazing treat; the kind of treat that makes all the world's woes disappear for a few moments, that reminds you of family and relationships and all that is good and needed. I am being treated to homemade macaroni and cheese.

While the Italians boycott pasta today, we will celebrate it. We can quietly tuck into a bowl of tender elbows that explode with cheesy gooeyness when our teeth close in around each morsel. And beaks...we like beaks closing in and enjoying a little comfort food, as well.

Ozzie the parrot will enjoy this meal, mostly because pasta is one of his favorite dinners and cheese makes it even more tempting and eye-flashing-worthy (he doesn't often get to eat such a high fat content meal, after all). Macaroni and cheese is also comfort food to him, I believe. I know he loves it, and feels that he is getting a special dinner when it shows up in his bowl. And he knows that his flock (the English cutie and myself) also find it endearing, so that enhances his experience.

And Ozzie deserves a little comfort today - much like the rest of us - as he has lost an important peer this week. Alex the parrot unexpectedly passed away at the age of 31. It would be a simplistic understatement to say that Alex was a special parrot; our Grey friend contributed to cognitive research and science like very few have been able to and has single-wingedly moved our understanding of animal communication research ahead miles and miles. But Alex was much more than just a super-smarty parrot with a dedicate team of researchers to play and work with each day. Alex was also a friend, colleague, and inspiration to many humans and parrots alike. And when we think of how we would like to be remembered, many of us would prefer to leave a legacy that reflects the type of person we were, not just our specific accomplishments. I believe that if Alex was able to grasp these concepts, she would have been happy to be know as friend and mentor.

So tonight, over our bowl of macaroni and cheese, we will spear a piece of pasta on our beaks in honor of Alex. I will probably shed another tear or two, as well.