BIRD BLESSING - Ep.3 - Southeastward Ho!

        BUCKY WOWS BUCKHEAD

         On April 10, 2004, Bucky accompanied me across the continent, back to the southeast, to rebuild my fractured life. Within days of his arrival in Atlanta, the conure was adopted as the unofficial team mascot of the past season's NYO baseball Mets at Chastain Park. Cast in the spotlight of a popular baseball fan, the newly christened 'Bucky of Buckhead' received an invitation to perform 'show and tell', on three separate occasions, at Buckhead's renowned Sarah E. Smith Elementary School.  During May 2004, R. Buckminster Flyer provided memorable inter-species encounters for the second, fourth and fifth grades. These savvy kids proclaimed kudos for Atlanta's-own avian emissary.

 I loved the way Bucky did his tricks. I hope you could come back soon. Love,

       Megan  (Ms. Lo's 2^nd Grade / May 2004)

My favorite part was when I won the answer to the question and got a feather from Bucky.  

Rachel (Ms. Lo's 2^nd Grade / May 2004)

 Is it really lucky if Bucky poops on you?  …  I had a fun time. Love,

       Aaron (Ms. Lo's 2^nd Grade / May 2004)

My favorite part was when Bucky sat on my shoulder and walked back and forth.

       George (Ms. Lo's 2^nd Grade / May 2004)

I loved when Bucky said his name. The medal goes to Bucky.

       Katherine (Ms. Lo's 2^nd Grade / May 2004)

 I learned Bucky has zygodactyl feet. I learned you named Bucky after your hero. Now that you told me what your hero did he is now my hero.  Your friend,

Harrison (Mr. Johnson's 4^th Grade / May 2004)

  I hope Bucky lives for a long time and hope Buckminster Fuller will be remembered forever.  He really used his brain and I respect him for that. Sincerely,

Aaron (Mr. Johnson's 4^th Grade / May 2004)

   Thank you so much for coming. It was so fun when Bucky crawled on almost everybody's head. 

Alyssa (Mr. Johnson's 4^th Grade / May 2004)

      Tell my best new fried, Bucky, thank you for cleaning mine and Harrison's teeth. … I'm thinking about getting a bird. You have really persuaded me…. Your friend,

Jean Claude (Mr. Johnson's 4^th Grade / May 2004)

Thank you for letting pet and hold you, Bucky.  Kenny, thanks for teaching us about Bucky, and Bucky Pucky, and telling us what zygodactyl means. It means two toes in front and two in back. Sincerely,

Ryan (Mr. Johnson's 4^th Grade / May 2004)

 When Bucky first got on my hand I was scared. Then I calmed down and it was a lot of fun. Sincerely,

Drew (Mr. Johnson's 4^th Grade / May 2004)

I learned a lot during the presentation, like the origin of the EPCOT Dome.  I learned about geography. I learned about birds, and most importantly, I learned about poop a/k/a Bucky Pucky.

Beau (Mr. Johnson's 4^th Grade / May 2004)

You are the best bird, you are.  

        Albert (Ms. Lo's 2^nd Grade / May 2004)

          Throughout the summer of 2004, as part of his daily schedule, Bucky appeared for delighted swarms of kids on most mornings in front of Goldberg's Deli on Buckhead's Roswell Road and nearly every night at Bruster's Ice Cream on Brookhaven's Peachtree. When Bucky and I pedaled on our bright orange mountain bike through the streets of Buckhead, drivers smiled and waved; passing pedestrians called out the refrain, "Hi, Bucky!"   

          The star-crossed conure always seemed to pull off his feats of advanced public relations like a seasoned politician - with a casual coolness and practiced aplomb. His singular fame among Atlanta's citizenry prompted me to print business cards for the fabled little green guy:

                                              BIRDMAN & BUCKY

-      Precocious Parrot Perching

        -      Advanced Avian Affection

-    Spontaneous Smile Generation

          Everyone seemed to agree, Atlanta's-own Bucky was one bird that really rocked How did he do it?  Simply by being himself - the inimitable, irrepressible and totally likable, R. Buckminster Flyer - a little green parrot whose one-of-his-kind methods and manners amounted to being an Ambassador of Affection and the Toast of Atlanta. 

           That long-ago wave of the hand by the Dalai Lama signaled just the beginning of our grand journey.  Since that night, Bucky deposited smiles on the faces of thousands, and brought human pleasures beyond description. Along our road less traveled, Bucky managed to stabilize my life and became my beloved friend. Indeed, this fledgling birdman was blessed by a blessed bird - my little green hero, R. Buckminster Flyer.

             Adventure Lesson Learned:  Go with the feathered flow.