The Story of Frankie Ruiz...the Parakeet

On November 6th, Frankie Ruiz joined our small family.

The hot shower system in my bathroom was not working. (Since we have two bathrooms in this apartment, Eric and I have each claimed one.) The landlord and an electrician were called in to fix the problem.

Eric and the two men were talking on the balcony, and as they came inside the electrician noticed a pinching pain on the back of his leg. He turned to look and found a tiny green parakeet hanging from his jeans. The bird had his wings clipped, so it was unable to fly; and we are in the 13th floor. How the bird arrived in our apartment, and moreover on the man's leg, is a mystery.

Eric and I spoke with neighbors and put up fliers about the missing bird. However, after about two hours of playing with him, we took the signs down. We fell in love. The landlord said that it was a blessing on our home. (Though, looking back, we think that he might have brought us this "blessing" in his pocket - how else did it get here???) Eric named him Frankie Ruiz, after one of his favorite Salsa singers.

Being good parents, we quickly bought Frankie a home - a four foot tree that we placed on the balcony. But when he began to wake up with the sun - and decided that he would scream and sing in order to wake us up too, we moved him inside. He received a new cage filled with toys. But it didn't stop there for Mr. Ruiz; he now has his own room. Every night he retires to the guest bedroom, where he can sleep quietly and have some privacy.

He is probably the most spoiled bird on the block.

Having him is actually pretty good baby training. When we first put him in his new room for the night, he was cawing and crying. I wanted to go in and get him, but Eric kept saying, "No! You have to let him get used to falling asleep on his own." In the morning, if I haven't heard anything from him, I peek into his cage to make sure he is breathing. We have even felt the urge to rush home after being out of the house all day, to check on him and spend time with him before bed. Plus all he really does is eat and poop...it is like having a very tiny green baby.

Our grand vision is that in seven months, when it is time for Eric and I to move back, that Frankie's wings will have grown back and we will release him into the wild. However, each apple, banana or pepper treat we give him makes me more and more aware that he may not want to go. Where in the wild will he find two grown people that cater to him, feed him, clean him, play with him - where will he find his own bedroom and food in the fridge that was bought just for him. Our little Augustus Gloop may get a little too spoiled for the wild.

For now we will enjoy our time with him and will probably continue to spoil him. I am curious to see what lessons about life, love and ornithology Frankie will teach us. I am also curious to to see what other "blessings" will appear in our house the next time the landlord comes to visit.