Since adopting my beloved golden retriever at Christmastime last year, I just hadn't gotten the doves out of the cage that much. Keeping them in the cage was mostly for their safety, although Macy has certainly never shown any aggression toward them.
I have had a year to contemplate this, but I knew in my heart that--if I acted in their best interest instead of my own desire to keep them around for beauty--it would be most compassionate to let them go to a loving home without a dog that would allow them to enjoy flight more often again.
And so, I advertised them on Craigslist. And I got nearly 20 applicants who were interested. Narrowing down the applicants was very difficult, especially because many people wrote me beautiful essays and included pictures of the cage they would provide to the doves if they adopted them.
After much pondering in my heart, I finally picked Bianca. She was a girl my age, newly married, and living in an apartment. Her emails contained a purity of heart that I did not detect from the other applicants, and she shared with me her prior experience raising love birds, one of which loved to snuggle into her sleeve and fall asleep there, she said.
And so, we made arrangements for her to come over this past Saturday. And she was overjoyed to meet Pure and Innocent, who immediately took a liking to her and delighted her by flying and landing on her head frequently.
It was as if they had understood my conversation with them the previous night, where I had explained that a new chapter of their lives would be beginning the next day, as their care would be transferred from me to another. I cried as I told them that I loved every second of the 2.5 years that they graced me with their presence.
Bianca brought with her a pen and paper on which to take notes about their care. And she seemed willing to stay as long as I needed to say my final good-bye's to them. Her gentleness was evident as she handled and spoke to the doves. I knew I had found the right person and was making the right decision. But it was hard.
When the doves were finally loaded into their transportation carrier, I knew that I should send along with her the little mirror in which Innocent loved to look at and sing to himself. And I sent along nesting materials for little Pure.
I hugged Bianca then, for I knew I was trusting her with something very important to me. These doves represented more than just peace and the Holy Spirit. They represented a part of me. By her eyes, I could tell she understood this when we hugged. And, in so many words, she told me that she would take the responsibility seriously and joyfully.
When she left, I waved good-bye from the window probably longer than I had to. But I watched the car for as long as I could before it was out of sight. And then a rush of tears came, as I mourned the loss of my little feathered friends, knowing that it would be impossible to get them back.
But in all things, there are seasons. And what a beautiful season that was. And how appropriate it was that Michael bought me two stuffed doves from the gift shop at Sight & Sound Theater the night before. Indeed, these little cuties would symbolize the real Pure & Innocent that I loved so very much. And, incredibly, the first two stuffed doves that I picked up looked exactly like Pure and Innocent. Innocent had a thicker neck, and Pure had a smaller neck and a larger, rounder body by proportion. These two little stuffed doves each had the same proportions, so it was just perfect.
I love you, Pure & Innocent. And I will never forget you. Thank you for bringing hope and joy into my life. May you live long and happy lives!
Pure & Innocent graced my life from July 8, 2008 to December 4, 2010.
