Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Bird's the Word

I was enjoying a bagel sandwich in my car at the Whole Foods parking lot when I noticed a woman get into her SUV and prepare to do the same. But she was not alone, for on her shoulder was perched a magnificent white parrot.

It occurred to me as she situated herself in her luxury vehicle, that just moments before, this woman and her feathered friend were perusing the aisles of Whole Foods together.

If only I were that free!

Why couldn’t I walk through life with such a devil may care attitude that I would enter an organic grocery with an exotic animal on one shoulder and my recycled fabric tote on the other!

I’ll tell you why, it’s not the odd stares that I can’t endure, it’s the constant unending interaction with strangers that a parrot on one’s shoulder is sure to bring.

I watched as they shared a container of couscous. I envied their intimacy. Suddenly my bagel seemed too large for just one human to consume.

I felt a little sad when I saw her start the SUV and the parrot take his proper perch on the passenger headrest.

As they drove off, the woman let out a big hearty laugh. I couldn’t help but wonder, “What the fuck did that parrot just say to her?”

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

That woman, sharing the couscous with her shouldered parrot, will be the Typhoid Mary of the 21st century. Can you imagine how many more of those things she's got at home?