Lovey DOVEy
I like to think I am okay with pets. By okay I mean that I don’t love them and I don’t hate them. I do not see myself having a pet anytime in the future but Asim (my brother) and Pa (my dad) are fond of pets - so we’ve had a few over the years. We’ve had love birds, parrots, fishes, turtles and chickens. We live in a flat so getting a cat or a dog wasn’t really a good idea (I should also add my mother’s ultimatum : that either she stays in the house or a cat/dog). So like I said, I never had a pet personally, but there was always a bird or fish or turtle in the house and I was okay with it being there and sharing my space. I have friends who have puppies and cats and whenever I visit them, I am okay with the pets being there. It greatly annoys me when I see proper grown-up men and women screaming and scrambling for their dear lives because they just saw a cat in the parking lot (!!!!). I so totally get why you would scream death because of course the cat is going to eat you up and enjoy all your fat (*rolls eyes*).
Till a few months back, it was just the four of us at home. Our last parrot aka Mithu died and left an empty hollow space in my dad and brother’s heart and they decided we wouldn’t get another one till we had mourned and recovered from Mithu’s loss.
That was until they found us.
They are a pair of Mourning Doves. Maaee has Bougainvillea, Aloe Vera and a few other plants growing in our balcony. The birds would come and sit in the shade of the taller plants and one fine day Pa noticed them.
My Dad went to the store and bought seeds.
Seeds were put in a rectangular pot in the balcony.
The rest as they say is history.
The beginning of a wonderful relationship. The birds came everyday and ate. I would often stand in the kitchen and watch them eat through tinted glasses. One dove would plop inside the pot and eat while the other stood on the balcony rail and kept guard. My parents made sure that the seeds were always replaced and the pot remained full.
It was while Google-ing for the English name for Faakhta that I came across a few articles that claim to explain what a visit by the mourning dove symbolizes.
I am copying an informative excerpt from an article written by Kristina Dems of bright hub education.
The distinctive plaintive call of the mourning dove primarily suggests gloom and sorrow. Yet throughout history, the morning dove has been portrayed as a positive symbol. Find out more about the significant symbolism of this beautiful bird.
What are Mourning Doves?
By virtue of their melancholy call, Mourning Doves have been fittingly named as such. Their distinctive “wooo-oo-oo-oo” sounds may evoke a feeling of grief over the loss of a dearly beloved.
But far from representing death, the symbolism of Mourning Doves is actually more optimistic and spiritual. Beyond their sorrowful song is a message of life, hope, renewal and peace.
A dove is in fact a small pigeon. There is no technical difference between a dove and a pigeon save that doves are depicted to have pointed tails and move in a more graceful manner. Grayish-brown in color, Mourning Doves drink water by sucking – a remarkable accomplishment for birds.
Another remarkable feature of Mourning Doves is their monogamous nature. Mates typically stick together for the long run and become very devoted parents.
Interesting, right? Who would’ve thought! I even found discussion forums where people who had had encounters with mourning doves talked about how they were mesmerized by the dove’s calm demeanor and wanted to know if it meant something.
I don’t know about the doves bringing us luck or peace (we’re quite happy Alhamdolillah) but we sure are fond of them and we hope they keep coming because their pot will always be out there.
I know the photographs are not very bright - I took them through our balcony window which is tinted - else they would have flown away *wink wink*.
Now it’s your turn,
Tell me,
Do you like pets or are you an embarrassing-freak-who-screams-at-the-sight-of-another-creature?
Have you ever had any?
Till next week,
Be good and be happy,
xoxo,
A
And oooo before I forget, the song that the live band was playing at the Taste of Dubai Food Festival (refer to Blog Post#12 is *drum rolls* Somebody I Used To Know by Gotye Ft. Kimbra.
