catch a falling star.

When I was very young, my parents gave me two beautiful cockatiels to keep as pets, one male and one female. I named them Madison and Moira, respectively. They lived with us for a while, normally perched upon my shoulder while I read or watched TV. I loved to teach them songs to whistle, their favorite tune being, "Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day." Of course, they also whistled the obligatory "pretty bird" and kissing noises most birds learn to mimic.

For reasons I can't remember anymore, my mom - an elementary school teacher - took Moira and Madison to live in her classroom at school. They garnered lots of attention from all of the kids at my mom's school, and every day after class I would go visit them. They remained in my mom's classroom for a year or two until I begged my mom to let me have Moira back. She returned back home to live in my room where she stayed for years and years until she passed away when I was a junior or senior in high school. Madison, however, was very attached to the children and my mom's colleagues - the janitors, especially, who we were told whistled different Spanish songs to him every night. He could sing a mean "La Cucaracha!"

Eventually, my mom transferred to a different school so she decided to let the art teacher at her old school keep Madison in her art room. Time went on as it always does, and we heard through the grapevine one day that the art teacher had donated - so to speak - Madison to the nursing home her mother lived in where he lived in a nice big cage in the home's living area and sang for all of the residents. 

When I was two years in to college, my grandmother - Memaw as I liked to call her - had an aneurysm. After that, she was never really the same. As the years went by, she grew weaker and weaker and eventually could no longer take care of herself. She hated the idea of leaving her home for any kind of assisted living, but my dad saw no other choice and decided to move her to the best assisted living residence in our city. 

When we first took my Memaw to her new home, we walked into the lobby and living area where we were greeted by a pretty little sound of someone whistling, "Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket..."In a big golden cage sat a lovely little grey and yellow cockatiel underneath a tiny sign that read "Madison." I couldn't believe it was him after all this time. Memaw's memory had started to leave her little by little, but she seemed to remember the bird my family had from so long ago. She even had him learning new songs.

The past few years have been hard on my grandmother, and she had grown increasingly irritable with her living arrangements. Rarely did she ever like to let anyone move her from her room. However, most of the time when my family and I would go to visit her, there she would be seated in the front lobby next to Madison's cage listening to him sing.  

A few weeks ago, after ten years and a long, eventful life, Madison passed away. At 11 pm last night, at 78 years old, my Memaw passed away as well. 

I was her only grandbaby, and she sure did spoil me rotten. She loved her husband, fine jewelry, Frank Sinatra, her farm, and she could drink any of you under the table. She was a fine, classy woman, and I will miss her so, so much.  

I may have lost two old and dear family members and friends this week, but I will always remember the many amazing and cherished memories we shared. I know my grandmother has joined my grandpa on the other side and they are embarking on a new journey together, maybe even with Madison perched on her shoulder.

Me, my Memaw, and my madre. This was taken on Mother's Day long, long ago when I was a freshman in high school - and apparently when it was cool to wear a bra-strap as a choker. Yes folks, my grandma allowed me to be seen with her in public EVEN THOUGH I wore a bra-strap around my neck. The woman was a saint, I tell you.
(Sorry for the blurriness. I snapped this pic on my iPhone of one of the photographs my grandma had in her room.)

Rest in peace,  Memaw. <3