As many of you recall, my grandmother passed away on April 25th. It was with difficulty,but understanding that it was her time to go. I was not there for her passing. I received the news on returning home Friday evening. On the following day I was down at Molly's waiting for Seth ( my youngest ) to finish his shift as " the dancing leprechaun". ( yes a blog in itself ). I was sitting outside on the deck of the restaurant visiting with some friends who had arrived to see me and share their condolences. Seth soon joined us and it was just minutes after his arrival on the deck that another young child made a commotion about a bird that had just landed along the deck rail. We all turned to look in the direction of the child's excitement when I nearly fell out of my chair. The bird that landed on the deck was no ordinary bird...he was a peach faced love parrot. The very same bird my grandparent's had owned while I was growing up. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. He flew from the deck to the roof of the building. We walked out to the front in an attempt to call him to come to us. He appeared as though he would fly to our extended hands a few times, but each and every time he would come close and then fly elsewhere. After a while of attempting to get him...we had given up. There was no way any of us were going to be able to catch him. I headed inside the restaurant to pay out our tab. Just as I was about to head out the door, Seth William wandered in and in his clutched hands was that bird! How in the world did you do it Seth? Seth said the bird had flown to some bushes and he just reached in there and grabbed him. We quickly found a box to put him in and then headed to the store for bird food and supplies. A call to the house to ask my husband if he could possibly locate our old bird cage and the next thing I knew...he was on his way to Walmart to go buy one. Don't buy anything elaborate I told him...the bird is not ours and I am certain someone will claim him. I phoned my mother to tell her that she was not going to believe what I had in my possession. She literally teared up immediately. She told me that she had asked her mother to send a sign that she was happy and well and had found herself with Daddy again. So to my mother, this was no coincidence this was the sign she had requested. I put ads on websites advertising the found bird. I truly expected to find his owner. Everyone told me it was in vain as they also believed this was a gift from my grandmother. A dear friend of mine responded to the story with the following wisdom," Seth didn't catch a bird, he caught an angel". After a week or so I was believing that a name was in order as the short term visitor was becoming a long term resident. Sitting in his small cage on my desk I was deep in thought just watching him. I must admit I wondered why Gram's would have sent a bird to me other then the obvious reason that I would know for a fact that her hands were involved in this arrival. Then it came to me that the bird was here for another purpose. I believe that Gram's was nudging me just a bit more...the bird was ( is ) a sign to me that it was time for me to spread my own wings and give flight to dreams I had been holding inward. It was time for me to launch in a new direction. Immediately I turned to the computer and checked for the following domain name, wingstosoarproductions.com. Yes it was available...so I bought it. It is all a part of the new master plan. The very next thing...my dreams were given a name, now to name the bird. It only took a moment and I knew the perfect name for him. My grandmother's maiden name was Milone. The restaurant where the bird landed is named Molly Malones. And so the name Maloney was chosen. The following weekend, we headed to the pet store and invested in what we affectionately refer to as Maloney's High-Rise Condo. Spacious, nicely decorated and located in a perfect spot for him to keep watch over the comings and goings of the family, while also having a nice view to the outside. Maloney seems quite content and happy. He is not only a new member of the family, but a constant reminder to me of the possibilities that lie ahead. It is with that thought process that I developed the Maloney Minute. The Maloney Minute is now a feature on my monthly e-zine. It will continue to be a spot to share highlights from the journey. I hope he encourages other's journey's as well.
