My Parrot

Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?

When I was a small child, I was very lonely. It didn’t help being mentally ill and under medicated. So one Christmas present I received will always be close to my heart.

I was born in the mid 80s, and there was a line of stuffed animals called Wild Puffalumps. This certain Xmas, my parents got me and my siblings each one of the toys- my older sis got the Rhino, my twin got the monkey and I got Parrot. He was actually supposed to be a toucan, but he is green like a parrot, so I that’s what I call him.

I went EVERYWHERE with Parrot. I went to the park, I went to DC, I traveled with him throughout my childhood. He has been chewed up by the family dog, dunked in bathwater, lost most of his stuffing and effectively has one foot.

And I still have him! I keep him in my room, close to me. Parrot is the most precious thing that I own, because he is a part of a more innocent time in my life, before my mother divorced my dad and drove us away from her. He reminds me of when I was truly happy.

And yes, I gendered ‘him’. Guess it is something kids did back then…

Till next time!