In July 1998, my cockatiels Julio and Justice passed away. Both died suddenly, only four days apart. My new vet said that Justice probably died of a respiratory infection, but she also had internal bleeding. She died in my husband's hands on July 2nd. Julio was taken to my old vet by my brother for seizures. That vet said Julio died of a "vitamin A deficiency and nervousness" after she ran a bunch of tests. He died in my brother's hands on July 6th. We should have had necropsies done, but instead we chose to bury them under a magnolia tree in my parents' backyard.

Julio was my very first bird. Somebody gave him to us in 1991, when Julio was only a year old. We all learned so much about birds from him. Julio was very standoffish, though when he was ready, he would climb onto your shoulder and kiss you. He was very moody: one minute biting and drawing blood; the next minute, singing, whistling, and snuggling up to his blankies and pillows. Julio adored bells and music--his favorite songs were "Pop Goes the Weasel" and Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard." Julio loved looking at himself in the mirror; people always told him he was such a pretty bird. My poor little Julio had just turned 8 years old when he died--we shared the same birthday, July 1st. I will always miss him.

Justice was my husband's baby girl. He wanted a quiet pet while he was in law school. In 1993, he found her in a pet store at the mall. Justice was spoiled to death: her cage door was never locked; she could eat from the plates left out on the table each day; she stayed up late at night and slept in late in the morning; and she pooped wherever she wanted. As a result, Justice obeyed no one except her beloved daddy. They adored each other completely. Justice never totally accepted me, although towards the end of her life, she began to warm up to me. She was just starting to let me hold her and pet her without making a fuss. I still loved her anyway. Justice would have been 5 years old in October. She finally achieved her dream: she and Julio are together forever, albeit at the Rainbow Bridge.

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